What lies beyond the Trackless Sea in the world of Toril has always perplexed the citizens of Neverwinter. Rumors have it that great undiscovered continents with untold wealth lie there, but many dismiss them as fireside tales. As with many rumors and tales, a grain of truth is always present. The continent of Austrilis lies in this perilous sea with a great many countries. One such country is the Country of Comstalia. King Lacerca currently rules the country from the tallest mountain in the center of the country, Unus Mons, in the city Rexstalia. Four lords rule below him over the four major cities: Lord Nesteris rules the port city of Norstalia, Lord Eura rules the city of Eastalia, Lord Salari rules the city of Soutstalia and Lord Waxston rules the city of Westalia. And thus are story begins with Mortimer as he reminds himself that there is more to life than wizard books and studying.
Mortimer “Mort”, age 28, is the 8th son of an 8th son, destined for a life of fantastic mysticism, arcane arts and the truly odd. Born into a family of poor beet farmers to near Unus Mons, young Mort lived a modest life until age 8 when he, like all 8th sons of 8th sons, was summoned to attend the Wizarding Academy of Westalia. Mort would leave behind his common life and purse a life of knowledge and magic.
During his studies within the great libraries of the magic tower, Mort quickly discovered that while he was naturally gifted with the wisdom and intelligence shared among his peers, he was mentally unprepared for the intense and regular boredom brought on by the mundane studies within the classroom walls. Mort found himself increasingly spending more times in the taverns, hearing stories with those that passed through of the adventures they had and how much more there was to the world than the arcane knowledge in the books. Mort longed for a life that would satisfy his innate curiosity and rather than spend his locked in a tower reading of past lives long forgotten, Mort left the academy and devoted himself to the pursuit of a life truly worth living.
Mort became a regular at the Bubbling Brewster where he became to know the regulars quite well. Finnious, Kronk and Scabby: Finnious the one eyed drunken bard has always imparted his hobo wisdom with Mort, whether he wanted it or not, and always sings of his travels to the plains Eastalia in search of women and gold; Kronk, a typical brawn over brain muscle head barbarian who can only count to 9, and considers it his proudest moments when he can do it on the first try; And Scabby Jack, a 2bit smuggler and con man who can’t stop rolling the dice when he drinks. Occasionally Mort and Scabby find themselves hustling the unsuspecting adventurer with too much jingle in their purse. With this ragtag group of tavern goers, Mort seems to never find a dull moment. The spoils of the last “adventure” ended up being some old rocks with some runes that Scabby was able to pawn off to some Archaeological nuts from the academy. The coin was nice but seemed to disappear all too quickly due to Mort’s gambling and his philosophy of “another round never hurt anyone did it?” Thus the thirst for “adventure” is required once more. After grabbing his first round of ale from the Bubbling Brewster, Mort sees Finnious, with his eye patch as crooked as ever, walk into the bar and exclaim “Mort! We need to go on a quick adventure. There is another shard of the runestone we found in the Abagonda Forests. If we get it we will be awesome and make a ton of coin. In and out 20 minute adventure!” as he stumbles toward the bar.
"ONLY and ONLY if you do this job with me. We wouldn't of got that last one without you and it was such an easy job. -hiccup- It's just you are the only one that can do those-" Finnious leans back for a second and does a whirl whirl whirl motion with his arm. "things you do"
Mort tuns back to Finnious and in a hushed voice says, “actually, lets get them for the road. I owe scabby some money.” *hiccup* “...and id hate to run into him 2 drinks in without a copper piece on me”
———
Lets roll for a perception check
id also like to roll a history check and see what we can discover about the forest and possibly the runes that were discovered there
Insight into Finnious: Finnious appears to be telling the truth and seems to be excited about the prospects of an easy coin. As you recall from the last time, the runes were pretty easy to get. You don't sense any deceit.
History check into the forest: You remember reading about the forest he is mentioning in the books at the academy. The forest is to the south Westalia, about a two day hike away. You also recall there are supposed magical properties about the forest. Although you can't remember exactly what they are.
Mort raises his tankard to his mouth, forgetting that he had already downed the last of his sweet beverage. Disappointment washes over his face and he peers deep into the empty mug.
“Let us depart brother. My feet are itchy and these old bones yearn for excitement.”
Mort pats down his dusty and frayed robe, hands frantically searching for a familiar jingle. He frowns
“Make haste...” he winks at the bard and walks towards the door, “before the barkeep comes asking me about my tab.”
As Mort opens the door he hears Jess the barmaid yell "MORT! I know where to find you!" Mort quickens his pace out the Bubbling Brewster. This wasn't the first time Mort ran out of the tab there. He knew it would be waiting for him when he came in sober the next time. As Mort starts walking home, Finnious yells at him "MORT, Tomoro-- Tomo- I'll find you" then stumbled in the opposite direction. Mort's begins to to haze out a bit but stumbles his way to his one bedroom apartment. Mort kicks over yesterdays clothes to his bed and was quickly out.
The next day, Mort is awoken to a *knock knock* on his door. "I swear" he thought "what does anyone want at this hour in the morning."
Mort palmed his face in a feeble attempt to dampen the thunderous knock reverberating from inside his skull.
“Do you have any idea what time it is?” he groaned wiping away the ale and saliva mixture which had dried into a thick crust around his mouth. “Im coming, im coming...”
Mort grabbed his staff which he keeps propped by his bedside and used it to leverage his limp body onto the floor. He stretched his back, wiggled his legs, and vigorously shimmied his pelvis completing his post drinking morning ritual. “As limber as a toad” mort said to himself trying to will it as reality.
“Dont you know its bad luck to awake a sleeping wizard...” he said approaching the door across the room and swinging it open.
As the door opens he notices Kronk there. Kronk says "Sorry Mort, I thought since it was after lunch it was okay. Finnious told me yesterday to get you today for big job. He said you were excited to do it and we should meet up to leave at Finnious's after lunch."
"Kronk my good sir, please forgive my rudeness for it is always a pleasure to be in your company.” Mort said in earnest. “I would invite you in for a drink, but we shouldn't keep Finnious waiting...you know how he gets when there is coin to be made”
Mort turns back inside his apartment grabbing various items from off the floor and across the room.
“Let me prepare my things and we shall leave at once”
As Mort gathers his pack and staff they head out the building onto the streets where Mort is reminded how bright the sun is after a long a night at the tavern. As they head to Finnious's apartment near the edge of town, they pass various shops and houses and seen over them all in the background is the tower of the academy. Mort thought to himself "Oh how many years did I waste at that place. As least it is all behind me now." As they arrive to Finnious's place, Kronk knocks on the door. "Fin we here. Open open."
Nothing happens.
Kronk knocks again "FIn we here. Open Open." This time a bit louder.
Nothing happens.
Kronk seemingly out of nowhere bangs hard on the door and yells "FIN WE HERE. OPEN OPEN."
A loud thud could be heard in the room, followed by some scurrying. The door slowly opens and Finnious can be seen peeking through saying "Do you have any idea what time it is?" Kronk responds "Sorry Fin, I thought since it was after lunch it was okay. You told me yesterday to get Mort and meet you here after lunch." Finnious as seemingly almost in shock looks outside and says "Oh my it is that late? Come in. Come in! Let me show you the adventure!"
As Mort and Kronk head into Finnious one bedroom apartment, he motions them to the table where there are 4 chairs. They take seats and Finnious comes over with a piece of paper with some scribble written on it. Finnious sits down and says "So remember that last runestone that Scabby sold off? Apparently his buyer came back and said that he wants the other one for his museum piece. He said that his "books" say it should be in the Abagonda Forest to the south in some old ruins. Follow the river, then go south east and we should find it. There should be some-" Finnious pauses and starts reading the paper "yes, yes, some hole that leads to a sarcophagus. The runestone should be inside. Like the last one we found."
Mort absently stroked his beard, lost in his own thoughts miles away in another world, stranded on a sunny beach with a busty maiden in each arm. This is just one of the many fantasies he finds himself exploring while his fellow party members discuss strategy and execution. Like a flip of a switch he is teleported back to reality in the company of his friends: a hungover bard, a simple minded barbarian, and... an empty chair?
“Yes, yes, everything seems to be in order. Now tell me Finnious, are we expecting another? We were handsomely paid for the last ruin and even more so upon the delivery of a 2nd. I expect, there are more to these runes and crypts then the buyer lets on.”
Mort smiles and faces Kronk, “remember, the treasure is only worth the efforts if we come back with all our fingers and toes.”
Finnious replies to Mort in an almost disappointing tone "Scabby won't be joining us this time. He got word of a big dice game across town this afternoon and said he had no time this silly adventure, but as always, said we can ask him to help sell it if the buyer goes south." Finnious pauses for a second rereading the paper again "I would guess no more than skeletons and traps. All crypts have traps right? To attempt to protect from people like us!" Finnious laughs. "Now" he says "I think we should be about as prepared as we usually are. Shall we begin?"
“Double Dice Deluxe is today!?” Mort jumped out of his seat, mouth fully agape. “Scabby you bastard...” mort grunted as he ran out the door in a panic. “...He told me it was tomorrow.”
Mort popped his head back through the open door addressing the group, “Boys If we leave right now, I may still make it back in time for the afterparty tonite! Thats where they make the real money.”
Mort turned back through the door and sprinted out the building. “To the crypt!! We haven't a moment to spare!!”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As the motley three men head out the south of the town along a short trail that ends within a hour of walking. Before them is the Abagonda Forest. The forest was limitless, crowded, and ancient. Its canopy was ruled by walnut, larch, and sequoia, enough light shimmered through their crowns for colorful bushes to make use of the crunchy layer of leaves below. Curving climbing plants waved from every tree, and a mishmash of flowers, which grew in abundance, enriched the otherwise brown landscape. A medley of noises, belonging mostly to critters, echoed in the air.
Finnious reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. Unfolding it and reading it he states "Directly south!" as he begins marching unwavering forward with no regards to the bushes and trees in front of him. Within 30 minutes of venturing through the forest, you hear the sound of water rushing. Taking a few steps more, Mort comes to the bank of a large river. As he recalled, this is the river that separates Comstalia from the Forest of Silvalta. (roll a history check if you want to know more)
Finnious sits down next to the river for a brief second, and pulls out the piece of paper and begins reading. "West from til we reach the forgotten bridge." As they look down river, they see two Kobolds filling a water bucket.
DM rolls
18
The two kobolds seem to notice the three humans as well. They drop the water buck and draw their daggers.
What lies beyond the Trackless Sea in the world of Toril has always perplexed the citizens of Neverwinter. Rumors have it that great undiscovered continents with untold wealth lie there, but many dismiss them as fireside tales. As with many rumors and tales, a grain of truth is always present. The continent of Austrilis lies in this perilous sea with a great many countries. One such country is the Country of Comstalia. King Lacerca currently rules the country from the tallest mountain in the center of the country, Unus Mons, in the city Rexstalia. Four lords rule below him over the four major cities: Lord Nesteris rules the port city of Norstalia, Lord Eura rules the city of Eastalia, Lord Salari rules the city of Soutstalia and Lord Waxston rules the city of Westalia. And thus are story begins with Mortimer as he reminds himself that there is more to life than wizard books and studying.
Mortimer “Mort”, age 28, is the 8th son of an 8th son, destined for a life of fantastic mysticism, arcane arts and the truly odd. Born into a family of poor beet farmers to near Unus Mons, young Mort lived a modest life until age 8 when he, like all 8th sons of 8th sons, was summoned to attend the Wizarding Academy of Westalia. Mort would leave behind his common life and purse a life of knowledge and magic.
During his studies within the great libraries of the magic tower, Mort quickly discovered that while he was naturally gifted with the wisdom and intelligence shared among his peers, he was mentally unprepared for the intense and regular boredom brought on by the mundane studies within the classroom walls. Mort found himself increasingly spending more times in the taverns, hearing stories with those that passed through of the adventures they had and how much more there was to the world than the arcane knowledge in the books. Mort longed for a life that would satisfy his innate curiosity and rather than spend his locked in a tower reading of past lives long forgotten, Mort left the academy and devoted himself to the pursuit of a life truly worth living.
Mort became a regular at the Bubbling Brewster where he became to know the regulars quite well. Finnious, Kronk and Scabby: Finnious the one eyed drunken bard has always imparted his hobo wisdom with Mort, whether he wanted it or not, and always sings of his travels to the plains Eastalia in search of women and gold; Kronk, a typical brawn over brain muscle head barbarian who can only count to 9, and considers it his proudest moments when he can do it on the first try; And Scabby Jack, a 2bit smuggler and con man who can’t stop rolling the dice when he drinks. Occasionally Mort and Scabby find themselves hustling the unsuspecting adventurer with too much jingle in their purse. With this ragtag group of tavern goers, Mort seems to never find a dull moment. The spoils of the last “adventure” ended up being some old rocks with some runes that Scabby was able to pawn off to some Archaeological nuts from the academy. The coin was nice but seemed to disappear all too quickly due to Mort’s gambling and his philosophy of “another round never hurt anyone did it?” Thus the thirst for “adventure” is required once more. After grabbing his first round of ale from the Bubbling Brewster, Mort sees Finnious, with his eye patch as crooked as ever, walk into the bar and exclaim “Mort! We need to go on a quick adventure. There is another shard of the runestone we found in the Abagonda Forests. If we get it we will be awesome and make a ton of coin. In and out 20 minute adventure!” as he stumbles toward the bar.
"ONLY and ONLY if you do this job with me. We wouldn't of got that last one without you and it was such an easy job. -hiccup- It's just you are the only one that can do those-" Finnious leans back for a second and does a whirl whirl whirl motion with his arm. "things you do"
“Barkeep you heard the man! Another round!
Mort tuns back to Finnious and in a hushed voice says, “actually, lets get them for the road. I owe scabby some money.” *hiccup* “...and id hate to run into him 2 drinks in without a copper piece on me”
———
Lets roll for a perception check
id also like to roll a history check and see what we can discover about the forest and possibly the runes that were discovered there
15
17
History check
12
Insight into Finnious: Finnious appears to be telling the truth and seems to be excited about the prospects of an easy coin. As you recall from the last time, the runes were pretty easy to get. You don't sense any deceit.
History check into the forest: You remember reading about the forest he is mentioning in the books at the academy. The forest is to the south Westalia, about a two day hike away. You also recall there are supposed magical properties about the forest. Although you can't remember exactly what they are.
As Mort opens the door he hears Jess the barmaid yell "MORT! I know where to find you!" Mort quickens his pace out the Bubbling Brewster. This wasn't the first time Mort ran out of the tab there. He knew it would be waiting for him when he came in sober the next time. As Mort starts walking home, Finnious yells at him "MORT, Tomoro-- Tomo- I'll find you" then stumbled in the opposite direction. Mort's begins to to haze out a bit but stumbles his way to his one bedroom apartment. Mort kicks over yesterdays clothes to his bed and was quickly out.
The next day, Mort is awoken to a *knock knock* on his door. "I swear" he thought "what does anyone want at this hour in the morning."
As the door opens he notices Kronk there. Kronk says "Sorry Mort, I thought since it was after lunch it was okay. Finnious told me yesterday to get you today for big job. He said you were excited to do it and we should meet up to leave at Finnious's after lunch."
"Kronk my good sir, please forgive my rudeness for it is always a pleasure to be in your company.” Mort said in earnest. “I would invite you in for a drink, but we shouldn't keep Finnious waiting...you know how he gets when there is coin to be made”
Mort turns back inside his apartment grabbing various items from off the floor and across the room.
“Let me prepare my things and we shall leave at once”
As Mort gathers his pack and staff they head out the building onto the streets where Mort is reminded how bright the sun is after a long a night at the tavern. As they head to Finnious's apartment near the edge of town, they pass various shops and houses and seen over them all in the background is the tower of the academy. Mort thought to himself "Oh how many years did I waste at that place. As least it is all behind me now." As they arrive to Finnious's place, Kronk knocks on the door. "Fin we here. Open open."
Nothing happens.
Kronk knocks again "FIn we here. Open Open." This time a bit louder.
Nothing happens.
Kronk seemingly out of nowhere bangs hard on the door and yells "FIN WE HERE. OPEN OPEN."
A loud thud could be heard in the room, followed by some scurrying. The door slowly opens and Finnious can be seen peeking through saying "Do you have any idea what time it is?" Kronk responds "Sorry Fin, I thought since it was after lunch it was okay. You told me yesterday to get Mort and meet you here after lunch." Finnious as seemingly almost in shock looks outside and says "Oh my it is that late? Come in. Come in! Let me show you the adventure!"
As Mort and Kronk head into Finnious one bedroom apartment, he motions them to the table where there are 4 chairs. They take seats and Finnious comes over with a piece of paper with some scribble written on it. Finnious sits down and says "So remember that last runestone that Scabby sold off? Apparently his buyer came back and said that he wants the other one for his museum piece. He said that his "books" say it should be in the Abagonda Forest to the south in some old ruins. Follow the river, then go south east and we should find it. There should be some-" Finnious pauses and starts reading the paper "yes, yes, some hole that leads to a sarcophagus. The runestone should be inside. Like the last one we found."
Finnious replies to Mort in an almost disappointing tone "Scabby won't be joining us this time. He got word of a big dice game across town this afternoon and said he had no time this silly adventure, but as always, said we can ask him to help sell it if the buyer goes south." Finnious pauses for a second rereading the paper again "I would guess no more than skeletons and traps. All crypts have traps right? To attempt to protect from people like us!" Finnious laughs. "Now" he says "I think we should be about as prepared as we usually are. Shall we begin?"
As the motley three men head out the south of the town along a short trail that ends within a hour of walking. Before them is the Abagonda Forest. The forest was limitless, crowded, and ancient. Its canopy was ruled by walnut, larch, and sequoia, enough light shimmered through their crowns for colorful bushes to make use of the crunchy layer of leaves below.
Curving climbing plants waved from every tree, and a mishmash of flowers, which grew in abundance, enriched the otherwise brown landscape. A medley of noises, belonging mostly to critters, echoed in the air.
Finnious reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. Unfolding it and reading it he states "Directly south!" as he begins marching unwavering forward with no regards to the bushes and trees in front of him. Within 30 minutes of venturing through the forest, you hear the sound of water rushing. Taking a few steps more, Mort comes to the bank of a large river. As he recalled, this is the river that separates Comstalia from the Forest of Silvalta. (roll a history check if you want to know more)
Finnious sits down next to the river for a brief second, and pulls out the piece of paper and begins reading. "West from til we reach the forgotten bridge." As they look down river, they see two Kobolds filling a water bucket.
DM rolls
18
The two kobolds seem to notice the three humans as well. They drop the water buck and draw their daggers.
Initiative rolls:
Mort 7
Finnious 16
Kronk 12
Kobold 1 7
Kobold 2 1
Kronk is up first! Kronk lets out a roar, pulls the club off his back and charges at Kobold 1.
Attack: 19 Damage: 4
Kronk smashes Kobold 1 along the shoulder for 2 damage!