‘Good spot Wakka. I remember you had, umm, have sharp eyes.’ Manfred strums a few harmonic notes on his lute, a little clumsily at first as though he’s out of practice, before finding the right tone to unlock the warding magic…
’It should be safe to open now. Magically at least…’
Wakka and Manfred manage to prevent the trap from catching you - unfortunately, there is nothing inside the crate but rocks!
You dispel the rest of the cultists, grab a rowboat, and head out to meet the Dancing Delight who stuck around despite the pirate ship attack earlier. You manage to convince them to come into the harbor by the caves, now safe to approach with the death of Gadrille. The crew helps you move all of the cargo out, fully expecting a cut of the profits from the material...
"I need a vacation." Wakka groaned to Genren in reply once the dust had finally settled and the cult was no more. "Ideally to a place with sunny weather and no storms. in sight" he added with a sigh. "You're also going to have to teach me how to dodge lightning like you did earlier. That is not a skill I thought I'd ever need until a few moments ago..."
Genren chuckles, "Get shot at enough times and you'll get better at it... otherwise it's all in the hips my friend." he nods as he pats him on the shoulder.
As they load up the ship, "Ah so what's next? A quick vacation or we back out on the hunt for more? I'll report what we found out to my former garrison once we get back in town too."
"That was so much fun!" Tallow is almost vibrating with excitement, or maybe a result of being electrocuted. "I don't really have much need for any of the treasure. If that fish is still good, I'll take that." He listens as the group talks about what comes next. "I don't generally make plans. I'm up for adventure if any of you are off on that. Or, I could easily open a seaside restaurant if vacation is more everyone's speed."
‘Hi guys.. Thanks for hanging around to give us a lift back to Leilon. We were more than happy to stop the pirates’ attack on you…’ Manfred says to the crew of Dancing Delight, making it clear that he expects a free lift back with his friends and their recovered loot. (Persuasion: 25)
To his friends:
’I think we should set up some sort of fund to help people out of luck, such as fishermen who’ve lost boats, or people whose houses have burnt down. This feels like blood money to me if we kept it…‘
Genren nods in agreement to Manfred’s point. “I’m sure a lot of folks have been displaced and lost their livelihoods due to this cult. A fund or charity would make sense. Some of it can also go towards the infrastructure of Leilon itself so they can better defend themselves from future threats. I ain’t in this business for the money anyways!” He says as he stretches out with a yawn. “I also wouldn’t need any of these magic items… maybe the militia or a local garrison could use em?”
Though the thought hadn't initially crossed Wakka's mind to donate the found treasure to Leilon or those affected by the cult's troublemaking, once he heard the idea though, he supposed that it probably was the best course of action to take. "Sure I guess that would make sense." Wakka added on. "Could use some of the money as well to train folks to keep an eye out for any potential returns from this Talos cult as well."
Though the thought hadn't initially crossed Wakka's mind to donate the found treasure to Leilon or those affected by the cult's troublemaking, once he heard the idea though, he supposed that it probably was the best course of action to take. "Sure I guess that would make sense." Wakka added on. "Could use some of the money as well to train folks to keep an eye out for any potential returns from this Talos cult as well."
“maybe we can help train them as well? Or at least find competent people to do the training. I agree that they’ll need to keep themselves safe just as we have. It’ll be more sustainable that way…”
“maybe we can help train them as well? Or at least find competent people to do the training. I agree that they’ll need to keep themselves safe just as we have. It’ll be more sustainable that way…”
"Agreed. And maybe we can try and invest in some lightning-proof armor for them if there's any funds left..."
The mighty adventurers make it back to Leilon, trading some of the goods 'recovered' from the cultists to the crew of the Dancing Delight as part of an enduring agreement for passage when needed and as part of the ship's business. The rest of the material is safely transported into town, establishing even more goodwill and free labor to finish repairs on the Guildhouse. Several new members joint the party as a result of these exploits, and a veteran from Phandalin even comes down the coast to help out!
(OK - any other downtime actions or item swap outs for the group? See the group chat for an updated description of the town and new shops/people. For everyone's sake, please (re)introduce your character! Thanks for understanding while I was out...)
Several weeks after thwarting the most recent efforts of the cult of Talos, Genren was set upon a new task by the council until the next big threat arises. Some local ruins had caught their attention as the town continued to build and expand. The task was simple, explore the ruins and ensure there is nothing of value or potential threats linger. A simple task that he was happy to do, and happy to do it alone.
It was a short trip, a few hours on foot as he dashed through the marshy terrain, he shuffled gracefully in between the trees as he set his eyes upon a small cluster of deteriorated stone structures built in an overlapping fashion. The strangest things were happening the closer he got, voices, indistinguishable, but present in the back of his mind began to call out to him. After a thorough perimeter sweep Genren made his move as he darted stealthily to the entryway scouring the structures for clues.
Genren snoops through the various corridors of the ruins as if he's being guided, it feels like he's been here before.... finding old traps (and easily disarming them) and store rooms for what seem to be military supplies, alchemy and poison studies. He eventually finds a secret passageway as a false wall creeks open slowly, revealing a stairway down to a basement….to the basement as the staircase down was cut off, so he runs on the walls with his spider slippers dodging incoming arrow traps along the way, gracefully. Once reaching the bottom he hears a strange echo in his mind… his weapon begins to resonate with the space and calls to him, the language unknown but the sentiment was obvious; he was on to something.
In front of him lie one more room, door shut and locked tight… the “key hole” was large and at chest height and could not be picked by normal means with his thieves tools. His sword once again begins to resonate and uncharacteristically unravels itself as if suggesting “I am the key…”. Seeing this Genren stabs his blade into the slot and it clicks! With a quick turn the final room is open and a lone black, leather bound book sits on a simple table covered in cobwebs. A plaque above it reads “For those slick and sly, quick and filled with guile. With the right pick, and the wrong intentions, take this manual to sharpen your body more than any blade. Within these pages you’ll learn from knaves, thieves and rogues of past generations to strike quick and stay nimble regardless of your situation.”
Without hesitation Genren grabs the book as the structure begins to shake and crumble around him, he hears a simple phrase in his head “Run my friend” as he dashes out of the ruins to safety, without his dancing sword but with a [Tooltip Not Found] . Upon returning to town he spends several days studying the techniques of the books improving his agility and speed in the process….
Present day:
Genren continues helping the town build it's infrastructure spending most of his time in the docks and shipyards while taking shifts of guard duty and training those eager to defend themselves. He stops into the hall and looks for his companions, seeing if anyone is around to seek out more work or if news has come regarding a new threat...
Ronkur Boonkiddles had lost the trail. That didn't happen as often these days as it did in his youth, but still, from time to time trails went cold, leads dried up and he and Hal found themselves sitting together at a quiet table in a pub in some strange town. That's where he was now, betwixt and between as it were. He had plenty of coin in his pocket for his immediate needs, but still not enough to replicate that marvelous little toy he... .well, there was always something new to be built or made or improved upon.
So here he sat, a gnome deep into middle age, comfortably dressed in practical workwear of his own design, large googles in their customary position on his forehead, drinking from a large mug of frothy ale, munching on a bit of hard bread and cheese, tinkering with a small puzzle ball - also of his own design - and chatting with Hal about what they should do next.
She made it all the way back home. She stopped at Phandelver and said hello to some of her old friends, her old home and her old haunts. Leion was home now, so her trip was for nostalgia. She did some trading and hunting along the way for the right price of course. Her trusty crossbow 'Lil' Bess' and its gifted string rarely ever missed a shot these days. It was a long journey, but she did make it...back home to Jalanthar.
Upon arriving back home she was greeted by her mother, but finding out her father had passed some time ago. They didn't know where she was and Perkas never wrote to them, so how were they supposed to know where she was. Its her own fault. She spends a few months in mourning, hunting for her mother and helping her make and store up coin before she heads out again. She invited her mother to come along with her, to her new home since papa was gone, but she just laughed at Perkas and said "I'm no adventurer, my place is here. Just make sure to.send word every now and again. Maybe I will join you one day." With a great big hug the smallest halfling could give her mother she made up her nag and headed back west and south. Back to Leolin.
Arriving in town
She smiles and waves to those she knows and goes and catches up with the friends at the guild hall, checks into her room and cleans up a bit before heading into whatever tavern or shop offers good food and drink these days. That's where she sits, this 2 ft 8in tall halfling with wild tousseled brown hair that is green underneath, but a gem sits atop her head quite odd looking. Her green eyes alight with a smile. She wears studded.leather.armor engraved with all sorts of intricate forest motifs. Shes at a table, a mug in hand and a plate of food in front. Jovially smiling and laughing telling stories of her travels with Lil' Bess strapped to her back looking note than likely up to everyone else.
"So.friends, catch me.up, what have I missed while.I was away?"
'So, sit, sit...' says Manfred, a halfling bard of some renown in the area, to the assembled crowd. He takes a sip of wine, savouring the taste as the fingers on his other hand toy idly with a copper ring, who's verdigris picks out a stylised pattern of different animal silhouettes.
'Sit on your blades awhile, as they say in the southern reaches, and hear my tale of a trip to the realm of a Faerie Lady...' he pauses briefly for the crowd to hush, used to reading - and working - such rooms.
'Imagine, if you will, the ringing clash of weapons, the iron scent of blood, the screams of the dying. This is the reality of combat, when heroes battle foes both monstrous and human. Now imagine being one moment amidst such fury, and between breaths, finding yourself amidst the dappled shadows of a forest glade, with the gentle glow of twilight overhead. Imagine the shock, and then - on taking a breath of air gently scented with pine and blossom - the sense of wonder. This dear folk, was my experience a bare ten-day ago, when I stepped into the wonders of faerie...'
Manfred goes on to describe, with much omitted to be sure, how he had spent a year and a day amongst the followers of a great lady of the fae, and after he had won her favour with his music she bestowed on him a single kiss - whose potency still dwells within him. In the moments following the kiss he found himself back amongst his friends & comrades at the end of a fight, a change of pace and environment even more profound than the original abduction...
'And so here I sit, with one foot here and one foot in a place of dappled shade and wonder...'
The crew, getting reacquainted with old friends and making two new ones, are sitting around a table at the Umber Hulk's Shell, a newly reconstructed Inn in Leilon, considering their next steps. The New Adventurers' Guild Hall was coming along nicely. They had hired someone to run the day-to-day business of the Hall, and a few other locals to cook and clean. But the itch of adventure was beginning to burn in them all again...
There was currently one job offer from the council. Farmers in the small community of Leilon Point reported aquatic humanoids making small but frequent raids on the area. They are killing farmers and burning Leilon’s food supply. The council asked the Adventurers' Guild to kill or rout the raiders, for a reward of 750 gp.
While discussing this, Alion Malwyn, a kind-hearted, nonbinary Illuskan human, brings your drinks and a freshly-baked loaf of hearty bread. He shares a tale from other travelers who passed by a few days ago. “A few hunters passing by said to avoid Kryptgarden Forest - the dead are walking around there! But, I also heard there’s a great green dragon with a lair somewhere in Kryptgarden Forest. Folks around here call her Old Gnawbone because she loves devouring people like us. Be careful if you’re going in that place!”
After all of the excitement, near death experiences and lightning bolt strikes that Wakka and the others had gone through with the Cult, he found himself desiring for the first time since he turned his life around: a vacation. When things seemed settled enough for the time being in Leilon, Wakka said his farewells to Manny, Genren & Bubulae - with the promise to return - and made the journey back to the original guildhall in Phandalin. After updating the Guildmaster on the project in Leilon, Wakka spent the next week relaxing in the Guildhall, mingling with various guildmembers townsfolk and adventurers that came through the growing town, content with the peace and quiet.
Eventually though - as tended to be the case with him - Wakka began to feel restless and ready to venture back out into the world. Right as he was about to return to Leilon, Wakka ran into a couple of familiar faces: Baldor and his son Belgo, the merchants he and the others had accompanied through the Neverwinter Woods awhile back. After briefly catching up, they mentioned that they were just about to ask for guards from the Guild to help complete their next delivery to the Neverwinter Elves and asked if Wakka would like to join. After pretending to ponder on it a moment, he quickly agreed to join (as in truth, ever since he had left, he had been looking for a reason to return and see her again).
Just like before, the initial portion of the journey was rather uneventful. That quickly changed once they had entered deep into the woods - the unsettling taint that still infected it quickly changing his mood from anticipatory and excited to unnerved and overly cautious. Luckily though, the traveling party ran into no issues on the way and arrived at the elven settlement unharmed. While Baldor completed his transactions, Wakka - as casually as he could (which wasn't very) - asked around about Queen Eskarina and if he could have an audience with her once again. Sadly though, he was told that she had just left on a short mission elsewhere within the Woods and that he had just missed her. Rather despondent, he trudged along at the back of the party as they slowly made their way out of the elven settlement and back on the road to Phandalin.
Taking up his customary place at the back of the caravan, Wakka was lost in thought as they moved through the Neverwinter Woods when he heard a scream deeper in the forest. His head jerking up, he quickly asked "Did anyone else hear that?" Confused shakes of the heads were his only reply. Though not entirely convinced, he remembered the warnings about the strangeness of the Woods and straying from the main path and tried to convince himself it was all in his head. The second scream moments later sent him barreling into the Woods in search of the source, heedless of the calls from the others to come back. The voice sounded too familiar, and he wouldn't be able to sleep at night if he didn't know for sure one way or another.
Charging through the forest, he heard the same piercing scream one last time which he used to help guide him through the darkened forest until eventually, he came to the edge of a steep cliff with a ravine down below. "Queen Eskarina! Queen Eskarina!! Noomi!!!" He called out, the last name the pseudonym she had used the first time they met. Just as he began to despair and fear the worst, he heard a voice call out "Wakka? Is that you?" His heart skipping a beat at her voice, he looked around until he spotted a small well-hidden hollow in the cliff face below that held the crouching form of the Queen. "How did you know I was here?" she asked curiously after locking eyes, "I never made a sou- Watch out!" Turning on the spot with axe raised, he slashed at a semi-formed shadow just about to strike him in the back. As it faded away, he could see more forms lurking further back, slowly moving towards him; too many to fight on his own. Quickly turning around towards the ravine, he quickly gauged how far away the other cliff face was before doing something drastic. "I'm going to need you to trust me!" he shouted down to the Queen below before taking a couple steps and launching himself sky-high into the air. Simultaneously, he used his mental abilities to lift Eskarina out of the hollow towards him in the air. Meeting him halfway between each cliff face, Wakka grabbed onto her before saying, "I hope this works! Noomi!" At his command, his Animated Shield leapt from his back and became a stepping stone mid air that he subsequently used to leap a second time across the ravine and safely onto the other side.
"Are you alright?" he asked the Queen as he looked across the ravine to see that the shadows were nowhere in sight. "I am quite alright due to your efforts. Thank you Wakka. It is a shame though that the shield I gifted you fell into the ravine after your maneuver. Especially with such an interesting command word..." Turning towards her and seeing the hint of a smile in her eyes, his face suddenly grew rather hot he shrugged a bit shyly unable to think of a proper response or excuse on the fly for probably the first time in his life. Staring at the Fighter for a moment before laughing almost musically to herself, she rose to her feet and dusted herself off. "Well, we best leave this area before those shadows learn to fly or do whatever it was you just did."
After a rather meandering day and a half stumble through the woods, Wakka and Eskarina eventually made it back to the settlement safely. In thanks for returning the Queen back to her people safely, Wakka was allowed entry into the elven city proper this time around where he marveled at the magical architecture that wound its way around the ancient trees of the Neverwinter Woods. And though he wasn't able to interact with the Queen quite as often as he would've liked - she had royal duties after all - he did spend more time with her than he had the first time he had visited which he cherished greatly; by the end, he was barely flustered around her! When he left a few weeks later on his way back to the Guild with a glittering replacement shield strapped to his back, and more memories he would never forget, Wakka thought to himself, Vacation's aren't half bad. Can't wait for the next one!
Back in the Present
Walking through the gates of Leilon to see the new Guildhall under construction, Wakka nodded approvingly before making his way towards the largest inn in town. It was probably he assumed it was the best place to find the others. Entering the establishment, he was pleasantly surprised to not only see the old crew, but Perkas returned was well. "Perkas! You're back!! Long time no see! How was your trip home? You've missed quite a bit"Grabbing a seat and saying hello to the others, Wakka would listen to the story of her travels as well as share stories of the group's own adventures. And unless someone checked him, he attempted to channel his inner Manfred's storytelling ability and embellish the narrative here and there, purely for story reasons of course.
"Great, more sea creatures. I do hope the Cult is not back. I've rather enjoyed not being electrocuted they past few weeks. But I am ready to go as soon as the rest of you are." Wakka began. Turning to the two adventurous-looking newcomers, he added, "Will you be joining us as well. It never hurts to have a few more companions on a job like this."
Leilon Point is a small community of farmers and fishers, originally formed centuries ago to supply the town of Leilon with food. When Leilon fell, the village remained, but it has recently increased its production to support the rebuilding of the town. Leilon Point is ten miles from the town of Leilon.
The farms of Leilon Point are deathly quiet and still. Every window in the community of thirteen quaint buildings is shuttered. Many of the village’s fields are reduced to blackened ash, and its single street is lined with overturned carts, destroyed sacks of grain, and the rotting, slaughtered carcasses of chickens and pigs.
Though this village on a seaside cliff is mostly farmhouses, four buildings without attached fields stand out. The first, a large cottage, has a sign outside its door that reads, “Head House.” Second, a cubic wood building depicts the image of curling waves on its front door. Third is a brick building high up on a hill, its massive windows shuttered tight. The final place of interest is a stone shed with a smashed door at the edge of town, near a path that winds toward the water.
(See the map here. Genren, Gryisha, Ronkur and Tallow - can you dump a character portrait here that I can use on the map? A square headshot preferred. Thanks!)
Manfred rests his left hand on Perkas's shoulder, casting Gift of Alacrity using an innate talent. (Perkas will add 1d8 to her initiative rolls for the next 8hours)
'I don't like the look of this...' he says quietly, his voice very sad...
Tallow, a male verdan wearing a chef uniform, comes almost tripping into the main hall of the Inn from the kitchen. He yells over his shoulder about taking a roast off the fire. He sees his friends and his face lights up. He rushes over to the table and gives everyone a hug, even the newcomers. He rushes back to the kitchen and brings out a large platter of sausages and cheeses. "I don't work here but I've been helping get them set up since they got back up and running. I did some travelling but mainly sticking close to home helping these folks out. I'm still cooking, and it's obviously the still the best food you will ever have, but after our adventures I want more." He looks at Manfred. "Don't worry, Manny. Maybe I'll get to be a whale again. Have any of you been transformed into a whale before? It's AMAZING!"
Genren walks with the group looking for the highest vantage point in the town (Passive is 21 but I'll roll for anything else he might pick up: 29 ) he clicks his teeth in disgust at the state of everything, he runs his hands through his blonde hair as he continues to scan the town. "I appreciate your optimism Tallow, truly, but this is a mess that I can't ever get used to seeing ya know? Let's see if there's anyone we can speak to... I'd also like to get up high somewhere to get a better view."
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‘Good spot Wakka. I remember you had, umm, have sharp eyes.’ Manfred strums a few harmonic notes on his lute, a little clumsily at first as though he’s out of practice, before finding the right tone to unlock the warding magic…
’It should be safe to open now. Magically at least…’
Wakka and Manfred manage to prevent the trap from catching you - unfortunately, there is nothing inside the crate but rocks!
You dispel the rest of the cultists, grab a rowboat, and head out to meet the Dancing Delight who stuck around despite the pirate ship attack earlier. You manage to convince them to come into the harbor by the caves, now safe to approach with the death of Gadrille. The crew helps you move all of the cargo out, fully expecting a cut of the profits from the material...
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Genren chuckles, "Get shot at enough times and you'll get better at it... otherwise it's all in the hips my friend." he nods as he pats him on the shoulder.
As they load up the ship, "Ah so what's next? A quick vacation or we back out on the hunt for more? I'll report what we found out to my former garrison once we get back in town too."
"That was so much fun!" Tallow is almost vibrating with excitement, or maybe a result of being electrocuted. "I don't really have much need for any of the treasure. If that fish is still good, I'll take that." He listens as the group talks about what comes next. "I don't generally make plans. I'm up for adventure if any of you are off on that. Or, I could easily open a seaside restaurant if vacation is more everyone's speed."
‘Hi guys.. Thanks for hanging around to give us a lift back to Leilon. We were more than happy to stop the pirates’ attack on you…’ Manfred says to the crew of Dancing Delight, making it clear that he expects a free lift back with his friends and their recovered loot. (Persuasion: 25)
To his friends:
’I think we should set up some sort of fund to help people out of luck, such as fishermen who’ve lost boats, or people whose houses have burnt down. This feels like blood money to me if we kept it…‘
Genren nods in agreement to Manfred’s point. “I’m sure a lot of folks have been displaced and lost their livelihoods due to this cult. A fund or charity would make sense. Some of it can also go towards the infrastructure of Leilon itself so they can better defend themselves from future threats. I ain’t in this business for the money anyways!” He says as he stretches out with a yawn. “I also wouldn’t need any of these magic items… maybe the militia or a local garrison could use em?”
Though the thought hadn't initially crossed Wakka's mind to donate the found treasure to Leilon or those affected by the cult's troublemaking, once he heard the idea though, he supposed that it probably was the best course of action to take. "Sure I guess that would make sense." Wakka added on. "Could use some of the money as well to train folks to keep an eye out for any potential returns from this Talos cult as well."
Zoldier’s Curse of the Crimson Throne: DM/ Redii || Zoldier's Strange Aeon's: DM
“maybe we can help train them as well? Or at least find competent people to do the training. I agree that they’ll need to keep themselves safe just as we have. It’ll be more sustainable that way…”
"Agreed. And maybe we can try and invest in some lightning-proof armor for them if there's any funds left..."
Zoldier’s Curse of the Crimson Throne: DM/ Redii || Zoldier's Strange Aeon's: DM
The mighty adventurers make it back to Leilon, trading some of the goods 'recovered' from the cultists to the crew of the Dancing Delight as part of an enduring agreement for passage when needed and as part of the ship's business. The rest of the material is safely transported into town, establishing even more goodwill and free labor to finish repairs on the Guildhouse. Several new members joint the party as a result of these exploits, and a veteran from Phandalin even comes down the coast to help out!
(OK - any other downtime actions or item swap outs for the group? See the group chat for an updated description of the town and new shops/people. For everyone's sake, please (re)introduce your character! Thanks for understanding while I was out...)
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Genren's Downtime:
Several weeks after thwarting the most recent efforts of the cult of Talos, Genren was set upon a new task by the council until the next big threat arises. Some local ruins had caught their attention as the town continued to build and expand. The task was simple, explore the ruins and ensure there is nothing of value or potential threats linger. A simple task that he was happy to do, and happy to do it alone.
It was a short trip, a few hours on foot as he dashed through the marshy terrain, he shuffled gracefully in between the trees as he set his eyes upon a small cluster of deteriorated stone structures built in an overlapping fashion. The strangest things were happening the closer he got, voices, indistinguishable, but present in the back of his mind began to call out to him. After a thorough perimeter sweep Genren made his move as he darted stealthily to the entryway scouring the structures for clues.
Genren snoops through the various corridors of the ruins as if he's being guided, it feels like he's been here before.... finding old traps (and easily disarming them) and store rooms for what seem to be military supplies, alchemy and poison studies. He eventually finds a secret passageway as a false wall creeks open slowly, revealing a stairway down to a basement….to the basement as the staircase down was cut off, so he runs on the walls with his spider slippers dodging incoming arrow traps along the way, gracefully. Once reaching the bottom he hears a strange echo in his mind… his weapon begins to resonate with the space and calls to him, the language unknown but the sentiment was obvious; he was on to something.
In front of him lie one more room, door shut and locked tight… the “key hole” was large and at chest height and could not be picked by normal means with his thieves tools. His sword once again begins to resonate and uncharacteristically unravels itself as if suggesting “I am the key…”. Seeing this Genren stabs his blade into the slot and it clicks! With a quick turn the final room is open and a lone black, leather bound book sits on a simple table covered in cobwebs. A plaque above it reads “For those slick and sly, quick and filled with guile. With the right pick, and the wrong intentions, take this manual to sharpen your body more than any blade. Within these pages you’ll learn from knaves, thieves and rogues of past generations to strike quick and stay nimble regardless of your situation.”
Without hesitation Genren grabs the book as the structure begins to shake and crumble around him, he hears a simple phrase in his head “Run my friend” as he dashes out of the ruins to safety, without his dancing sword but with a [Tooltip Not Found] . Upon returning to town he spends several days studying the techniques of the books improving his agility and speed in the process….
Present day:
Genren continues helping the town build it's infrastructure spending most of his time in the docks and shipyards while taking shifts of guard duty and training those eager to defend themselves. He stops into the hall and looks for his companions, seeing if anyone is around to seek out more work or if news has come regarding a new threat...
Ronkur Boonkiddles had lost the trail. That didn't happen as often these days as it did in his youth, but still, from time to time trails went cold, leads dried up and he and Hal found themselves sitting together at a quiet table in a pub in some strange town. That's where he was now, betwixt and between as it were. He had plenty of coin in his pocket for his immediate needs, but still not enough to replicate that marvelous little toy he... .well, there was always something new to be built or made or improved upon.
So here he sat, a gnome deep into middle age, comfortably dressed in practical workwear of his own design, large googles in their customary position on his forehead, drinking from a large mug of frothy ale, munching on a bit of hard bread and cheese, tinkering with a small puzzle ball - also of his own design - and chatting with Hal about what they should do next.
Perkas' Downtime (its been a while)
She made it all the way back home. She stopped at Phandelver and said hello to some of her old friends, her old home and her old haunts. Leion was home now, so her trip was for nostalgia. She did some trading and hunting along the way for the right price of course. Her trusty crossbow 'Lil' Bess' and its gifted string rarely ever missed a shot these days. It was a long journey, but she did make it...back home to Jalanthar.
Upon arriving back home she was greeted by her mother, but finding out her father had passed some time ago. They didn't know where she was and Perkas never wrote to them, so how were they supposed to know where she was. Its her own fault. She spends a few months in mourning, hunting for her mother and helping her make and store up coin before she heads out again. She invited her mother to come along with her, to her new home since papa was gone, but she just laughed at Perkas and said "I'm no adventurer, my place is here. Just make sure to.send word every now and again. Maybe I will join you one day." With a great big hug the smallest halfling could give her mother she made up her nag and headed back west and south. Back to Leolin.
Arriving in town
She smiles and waves to those she knows and goes and catches up with the friends at the guild hall, checks into her room and cleans up a bit before heading into whatever tavern or shop offers good food and drink these days. That's where she sits, this 2 ft 8in tall halfling with wild tousseled brown hair that is green underneath, but a gem sits atop her head quite odd looking. Her green eyes alight with a smile. She wears studded.leather.armor engraved with all sorts of intricate forest motifs. Shes at a table, a mug in hand and a plate of food in front. Jovially smiling and laughing telling stories of her travels with Lil' Bess strapped to her back looking note than likely up to everyone else.
"So.friends, catch me.up, what have I missed while.I was away?"
Perkas Brightmoon | Rhanloi's Romp Through the Sword Coast
Ciradyl | Lost In Time
Manfred's Midsummer Dreaming
'So, sit, sit...' says Manfred, a halfling bard of some renown in the area, to the assembled crowd. He takes a sip of wine, savouring the taste as the fingers on his other hand toy idly with a copper ring, who's verdigris picks out a stylised pattern of different animal silhouettes.
'Sit on your blades awhile, as they say in the southern reaches, and hear my tale of a trip to the realm of a Faerie Lady...' he pauses briefly for the crowd to hush, used to reading - and working - such rooms.
'Imagine, if you will, the ringing clash of weapons, the iron scent of blood, the screams of the dying. This is the reality of combat, when heroes battle foes both monstrous and human. Now imagine being one moment amidst such fury, and between breaths, finding yourself amidst the dappled shadows of a forest glade, with the gentle glow of twilight overhead. Imagine the shock, and then - on taking a breath of air gently scented with pine and blossom - the sense of wonder. This dear folk, was my experience a bare ten-day ago, when I stepped into the wonders of faerie...'
Manfred goes on to describe, with much omitted to be sure, how he had spent a year and a day amongst the followers of a great lady of the fae, and after he had won her favour with his music she bestowed on him a single kiss - whose potency still dwells within him. In the moments following the kiss he found himself back amongst his friends & comrades at the end of a fight, a change of pace and environment even more profound than the original abduction...
'And so here I sit, with one foot here and one foot in a place of dappled shade and wonder...'
The crew, getting reacquainted with old friends and making two new ones, are sitting around a table at the Umber Hulk's Shell, a newly reconstructed Inn in Leilon, considering their next steps. The New Adventurers' Guild Hall was coming along nicely. They had hired someone to run the day-to-day business of the Hall, and a few other locals to cook and clean. But the itch of adventure was beginning to burn in them all again...
There was currently one job offer from the council. Farmers in the small community of Leilon Point reported aquatic humanoids making small but frequent raids on the area. They are killing farmers and burning Leilon’s food supply. The council asked the Adventurers' Guild to kill or rout the raiders, for a reward of 750 gp.
While discussing this, Alion Malwyn, a kind-hearted, nonbinary Illuskan human, brings your drinks and a freshly-baked loaf of hearty bread. He shares a tale from other travelers who passed by a few days ago. “A few hunters passing by said to avoid Kryptgarden Forest - the dead are walking around there! But, I also heard there’s a great green dragon with a lair somewhere in Kryptgarden Forest. Folks around here call her Old Gnawbone because she loves devouring people like us. Be careful if you’re going in that place!”
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Adventure in the Neverwinter Woods Pt 2
After all of the excitement, near death experiences and lightning bolt strikes that Wakka and the others had gone through with the Cult, he found himself desiring for the first time since he turned his life around: a vacation. When things seemed settled enough for the time being in Leilon, Wakka said his farewells to Manny, Genren & Bubulae - with the promise to return - and made the journey back to the original guildhall in Phandalin. After updating the Guildmaster on the project in Leilon, Wakka spent the next week relaxing in the Guildhall, mingling with various guildmembers townsfolk and adventurers that came through the growing town, content with the peace and quiet.
Eventually though - as tended to be the case with him - Wakka began to feel restless and ready to venture back out into the world. Right as he was about to return to Leilon, Wakka ran into a couple of familiar faces: Baldor and his son Belgo, the merchants he and the others had accompanied through the Neverwinter Woods awhile back. After briefly catching up, they mentioned that they were just about to ask for guards from the Guild to help complete their next delivery to the Neverwinter Elves and asked if Wakka would like to join. After pretending to ponder on it a moment, he quickly agreed to join (as in truth, ever since he had left, he had been looking for a reason to return and see her again).
Just like before, the initial portion of the journey was rather uneventful. That quickly changed once they had entered deep into the woods - the unsettling taint that still infected it quickly changing his mood from anticipatory and excited to unnerved and overly cautious. Luckily though, the traveling party ran into no issues on the way and arrived at the elven settlement unharmed. While Baldor completed his transactions, Wakka - as casually as he could (which wasn't very) - asked around about Queen Eskarina and if he could have an audience with her once again. Sadly though, he was told that she had just left on a short mission elsewhere within the Woods and that he had just missed her. Rather despondent, he trudged along at the back of the party as they slowly made their way out of the elven settlement and back on the road to Phandalin.
Taking up his customary place at the back of the caravan, Wakka was lost in thought as they moved through the Neverwinter Woods when he heard a scream deeper in the forest. His head jerking up, he quickly asked "Did anyone else hear that?" Confused shakes of the heads were his only reply. Though not entirely convinced, he remembered the warnings about the strangeness of the Woods and straying from the main path and tried to convince himself it was all in his head. The second scream moments later sent him barreling into the Woods in search of the source, heedless of the calls from the others to come back. The voice sounded too familiar, and he wouldn't be able to sleep at night if he didn't know for sure one way or another.
Charging through the forest, he heard the same piercing scream one last time which he used to help guide him through the darkened forest until eventually, he came to the edge of a steep cliff with a ravine down below. "Queen Eskarina! Queen Eskarina!! Noomi!!!" He called out, the last name the pseudonym she had used the first time they met. Just as he began to despair and fear the worst, he heard a voice call out "Wakka? Is that you?" His heart skipping a beat at her voice, he looked around until he spotted a small well-hidden hollow in the cliff face below that held the crouching form of the Queen. "How did you know I was here?" she asked curiously after locking eyes, "I never made a sou- Watch out!" Turning on the spot with axe raised, he slashed at a semi-formed shadow just about to strike him in the back. As it faded away, he could see more forms lurking further back, slowly moving towards him; too many to fight on his own. Quickly turning around towards the ravine, he quickly gauged how far away the other cliff face was before doing something drastic. "I'm going to need you to trust me!" he shouted down to the Queen below before taking a couple steps and launching himself sky-high into the air. Simultaneously, he used his mental abilities to lift Eskarina out of the hollow towards him in the air. Meeting him halfway between each cliff face, Wakka grabbed onto her before saying, "I hope this works! Noomi!" At his command, his Animated Shield leapt from his back and became a stepping stone mid air that he subsequently used to leap a second time across the ravine and safely onto the other side.
"Are you alright?" he asked the Queen as he looked across the ravine to see that the shadows were nowhere in sight. "I am quite alright due to your efforts. Thank you Wakka. It is a shame though that the shield I gifted you fell into the ravine after your maneuver. Especially with such an interesting command word..." Turning towards her and seeing the hint of a smile in her eyes, his face suddenly grew rather hot he shrugged a bit shyly unable to think of a proper response or excuse on the fly for probably the first time in his life. Staring at the Fighter for a moment before laughing almost musically to herself, she rose to her feet and dusted herself off. "Well, we best leave this area before those shadows learn to fly or do whatever it was you just did."
After a rather meandering day and a half stumble through the woods, Wakka and Eskarina eventually made it back to the settlement safely. In thanks for returning the Queen back to her people safely, Wakka was allowed entry into the elven city proper this time around where he marveled at the magical architecture that wound its way around the ancient trees of the Neverwinter Woods. And though he wasn't able to interact with the Queen quite as often as he would've liked - she had royal duties after all - he did spend more time with her than he had the first time he had visited which he cherished greatly; by the end, he was barely flustered around her! When he left a few weeks later on his way back to the Guild with a glittering replacement shield strapped to his back, and more memories he would never forget, Wakka thought to himself, Vacation's aren't half bad. Can't wait for the next one!
Back in the Present
Walking through the gates of Leilon to see the new Guildhall under construction, Wakka nodded approvingly before making his way towards the largest inn in town. It was probably he assumed it was the best place to find the others. Entering the establishment, he was pleasantly surprised to not only see the old crew, but Perkas returned was well. "Perkas! You're back!! Long time no see! How was your trip home? You've missed quite a bit" Grabbing a seat and saying hello to the others, Wakka would listen to the story of her travels as well as share stories of the group's own adventures. And unless someone checked him, he attempted to channel his inner Manfred's storytelling ability and embellish the narrative here and there, purely for story reasons of course.
"Great, more sea creatures. I do hope the Cult is not back. I've rather enjoyed not being electrocuted they past few weeks. But I am ready to go as soon as the rest of you are." Wakka began. Turning to the two adventurous-looking newcomers, he added, "Will you be joining us as well. It never hurts to have a few more companions on a job like this."
Zoldier’s Curse of the Crimson Throne: DM/ Redii || Zoldier's Strange Aeon's: DM
Leilon Point is a small community of farmers and fishers, originally formed centuries ago to supply the town of Leilon with food. When Leilon fell, the village remained, but it has recently increased its production to support the rebuilding of the town. Leilon Point is ten miles from the town of Leilon.
The farms of Leilon Point are deathly quiet and still. Every window in the community of thirteen quaint buildings is shuttered. Many of the village’s fields are reduced to blackened ash, and its single street is lined with overturned carts, destroyed sacks of grain, and the rotting, slaughtered carcasses of chickens and pigs.
Though this village on a seaside cliff is mostly farmhouses, four buildings without attached fields stand out. The first, a large cottage, has a sign outside its door that reads, “Head House.” Second, a cubic wood building depicts the image of curling waves on its front door. Third is a brick building high up on a hill, its massive windows shuttered tight. The final place of interest is a stone shed with a smashed door at the edge of town, near a path that winds toward the water.
(See the map here. Genren, Gryisha, Ronkur and Tallow - can you dump a character portrait here that I can use on the map? A square headshot preferred. Thanks!)
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Manfred rests his left hand on Perkas's shoulder, casting Gift of Alacrity using an innate talent. (Perkas will add 1d8 to her initiative rolls for the next 8hours)
'I don't like the look of this...' he says quietly, his voice very sad...
Tallow, a male verdan wearing a chef uniform, comes almost tripping into the main hall of the Inn from the kitchen. He yells over his shoulder about taking a roast off the fire. He sees his friends and his face lights up. He rushes over to the table and gives everyone a hug, even the newcomers. He rushes back to the kitchen and brings out a large platter of sausages and cheeses. "I don't work here but I've been helping get them set up since they got back up and running. I did some travelling but mainly sticking close to home helping these folks out. I'm still cooking, and it's obviously the still the best food you will ever have, but after our adventures I want more." He looks at Manfred. "Don't worry, Manny. Maybe I'll get to be a whale again. Have any of you been transformed into a whale before? It's AMAZING!"
Genren walks with the group looking for the highest vantage point in the town (Passive is 21 but I'll roll for anything else he might pick up: 29 ) he clicks his teeth in disgust at the state of everything, he runs his hands through his blonde hair as he continues to scan the town. "I appreciate your optimism Tallow, truly, but this is a mess that I can't ever get used to seeing ya know? Let's see if there's anyone we can speak to... I'd also like to get up high somewhere to get a better view."