Far on the horizon, Tanni can see several large ships that have taken anchor. It's hard to see the flags they fly at this distance but both ships look to be made of similar design.
Paren quickly ducks back into his room before emerging again, his hands now in two full pockets. As the others walk past his room they can see his shield propped at the end of the bed but the symbol in the centre seems to be missing. With both his pockets heavy it's not hard to figure out where it may have gone.
When they get to the meal Paren stares at the fancy plates and cutlery for a while before leaning over. "Jonathan. Why are there extra spoons and forks on the table?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisysin Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
The meal continues without interruption and Candise approaches the table once it's cleared. "Do you need to return to your chambers prior to the performance or are you all ready now?"
(Happy new year. Would've responded earlier, but access to computer was limited.)
Jonathan sighs as Paren's constant questions. "They are for the different dishes provided during a meal. Honestly, some folks really don't understand etiquette. The easy way to work it out is each course you work from the outside cutlery and then inward for each course after. That fork and spoon is reserved for dessert."
So, it's about time I checked in; First off I deeply apologize for the unannounced absence. It's both the holidays and just life repeatedly causing trouble for the past three years, to the point where I can't bring up the motivation and joy to invest a lot of time in PbP, despite really enjoying the characters I play(ed). Especially here. Finan and this entire campaign are my favorite, out of every DnD campaign I've played ever.
I hope I'll be able to return to the forums with a healthy state of mind sometime soon, but for now I need to focus on other aspects of my life. Good luck to you all, and enjoy!
The dinner comes to an end after too much food is served and eaten. The view of the sea had been breathtaking and it had taken your mind away from the struggles and pains that Holden Heights weighed on you. It was in this moment of peace that you were able to calm yourselves and think of things outside of the approaching war of the gods. In Thousand Steps, they seemed to have little care for the gods of new or old and just went about their lives appreciating the arts and making coin of the fishing trade. The sounds of the crowds on the other side of the castle erupt in cheers as the music comes to an end.
Candise gathers the group and escorts them, with several guards of course, through the main halls of the castle where proper guests are shown. The extravagance and wealth is more than apparent here as you're walked past sculptures and paintings worth more coin than one could carry. Fishing artifacts are mounted to the wall in displays showing the importance that the craft held on the founding of the city and its rapid growth.
Religion check DC10 to read:
You're aware that Shamara had blessed the coasts to have an abundance of fish thus increasing the bounty of the small fishing villages here. This caused their rapid growth into the strongholds they are today. The absence of anything thanking her for this miracle seems off.
A guard stops the group at a doorway and they size up Finan. "You're on next."The guard says. "Have you your instrument?" Finan grabs his shawm with an excited smile and then follows the man through the doorway and down a long hallway until he's out of site. Candise motions to follow and moves quickly toward the next set of doors. Opening them, you see a massive crowd has gathered in an earthen amphitheater. There had to be thousands here. With the restrictions on the castle, you realize just how big Thousand Steps is in relation to the the towns you came from. All gathered here look to have had a few bottles of wine and cheer with excitement as you watch Finan take his steps onto the large stage.
You can see a bit of shock in Finan's eyes as he takes in the largest crowd he's ever performed in front of. This shock quickly fades as he begins to play his shawm. The tune starts out with a very somber tone and matching vocals that are more spoken than sung. You can feel the crowd being drawn into the music as they sway to the rhythm. As the song shifts into a more upbeat melody, the crowd goes wild with cheers and dancing. They seem to love him. You're filled with a bit of pride with how well the performance is going and you can see Finan beaming with glee.
The performance continues with several more songs and a few stories told by the bard. The crowd is completely enamored with him and you can tell that today has changed Finan's life for the better. When word reaches the party that Finan has been conscripted to be the new bard to the baron, you're not even surprised after the performance. If the world was going to end, at least Finan would be doing what he loved.
The group spends most of the evening celebrating Finan and his accomplishment. There is heartfelt sadness for several as they realize that Finan would be leaving this journey but joy in seeing the person they'd grown to love accomplishing so much. The gods were strange creatures though and Finan may be drawn back into their squabbles should they desire it. After all, Aiden has his hand in everything...
[OOC:
It is with great sadness that I see Finan taking a break but I think it's important that we all understand the importance of self care. If you ever feel that the game has become a sort of burden or if life has just been too much for you, please know that I completely understand that taking a break is often the best thing to do. This is only a game and should never take priority over your actual life. I hope you are all doing well and if you ever need to talk about anything, I'm here for you.
For the time being, Finan will be working with the Duke. If the player wishes to return, we'll work on getting him back into the story. Let me know if you have any questions. I may be pulling some people from Team2 if I feel it is needed to keep this party a reasonable size.
Paren spends as much time as he can with his friend before they part ways. Though they never seemed to agree he counted on Finan to keep him honest and to give him perspective.
Any other free time is spent in his room, his Yklwa spinning about his head as he practices the graceful movements that he was taught but has neglected in the recent chaos.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
No worries Mat_Yuren. Personal health and IRL comes first, as it should do. It's been great playing with you, and hopefully things will be working out for the better soon. If we end up playing again in the future, then all the better, and welcome Finan back with open arms... not that Jonathan would give him a hug or anything...
Jonathan isn't a huge fan of fish, preferring rich cuts from more land-based beasts. However, if they prize fishing and other water-based things, that's fine. After all, this place is a coastal city. He ensures that his clothing is sitting properly, lightly tugging the waistcoat so it is in place. As the evening entertainments continue, he attempts to mingle a little with those in the court, the gentry is of course his natural habitat. As the crowds gather around Finan, he feels some minor selfish bits of pride, as it is one of his group that is causing the masses to go wild (or as wild as they go in decent company).
As the night goes on, and the revelation of the parting of ways comes through, there is a little moment of sorrow in Jonathan's mind. However, he somewhat feels content that one of his companions has found their place, and in good company, too. Perhaps in the future he may come a visit the duke again, hopefully on less tenuous circumstances, and listen to Finan perform for them once again.
[RECAP that will hopefully answer some questions that the characters would know and the players may have missed]
The easiest way to describe the Lugh and Merveille relationship it is that they are two personalities of the same person. Daais can be considered an angel to Lugh/Merveille and is their living presence on the plane.
The knowledge that they're the same person has mostly been lost over the course of time from when the new gods took over. The party is starting to uncover the truth behind Lugh/Merveille.
There have been hints at the relationship between L/M and the new gods. For some reason, L/M accepted eternal rest and left the godly duties to the new gods. This is part of the reason that the the two haven't been heard from in so long and why their number of followers has decreased so sharply. Something has caused this treaty to end resulting in the resurgence of the old gods and their activity lately.
The party knows that Gunthar was researching an ancient site that offered eternal life. He was to bring back his findings to Krusk at the Shrine of Shamara. These findings included a dagger. Aiden's followers intercepted this dagger and had it delivered to him.
The party has learned that the site Gunthar was exploring was protected from the new gods and that's why Gunthar was tasked with the mission. Gunthar had been known as a sort of crazy in the archaeologist community and thought that this would be his chance to bring honor to his name. It's unclear where the site is located or how Gunthar got there.
Only one person in the party has actually seen this sacred site that Gunthar ravaged looking for things.
The party knows that Talia had studied at the monastery near Thornwood and found some texts relating to Lugh and Merveille there. This could be where she learned how to manipulate the blight that she found in Gunthar. Talia had just traveled from the monastery prior to the bridge festival. The party knows that Talia is a follower of Aiden. Is it possible that she learned of Gunthar's quest while at the monastery and came back to Holden Heights with that info?
The party intercepted a letter that had been destined for Krusk that seemed to have been written by Aiden. The letter was a threat hidden behind prose. It seemed to indicate that Shamara had been too power hungry and that Aiden was done being a part of her plan. Aiden mentioned that "out of your aura, we find strength". This could mean that away from the influence of the new gods, there is an uprising and that Aiden is part of it.
[hope this clears some things up. Please let me know if you have any further questions!!]
Falaine gives Finan a big hug upon learning of his conscription. She spends much of the time after the dinner and the show trying to collect her thoughts on what has transpired (thanks for the recap). As they're traveling through the castle she'll cast speak with plants just to see how any green life is being treated.
Tanni takes note of the lack of gratitude for Shamara, absent-mindedly mentioning it to her companions as they follow Candise through the lavish halls. "Weird how they seem to live mostly of fishing but there's no pictures or anything depicting Shamara. She's the one who supposedly blessed these waters with the plentiful bounty the town fills its nets with." When Finan takes off to perform, Tanni grins and slaps him on his lower back and urges him to play his fingers off.
Tanni enjoys the music and dancing, though she's clearly uncomfortable with her dress. She keeps tugging it, not accustomed to such a restrictive piece of clothing. When the news of Finan's new career comes up, Tanni is happy for her friend. Even though she won't admit it, she feels a pang of sadness seeing their friend staying behind. Seeing how trouble seems to follow each of them, they might meet Finan again in a middle of some adventurous event and this thought gives Tanni a strange feeling of glee.
Falaine finds that the plants throughout the castle seem to be tended to with a fair amount of care and all seem to be local to the region. There aren't a lot of green spaces within the castle itself so the plants most likely were grown on the inland side of the castecity and brought here. After stopping and looking at a planter full of small succulents near a window, she's approached by a guard dressed in rather fine garb but still wearing the same styled necklace the other tabaxi guards wear. She looks to Falaine with a look of understanding as she says, "Your company is being requested."
Paren finds comfort in the structure of his training. After all that has happened today, it helps him to center and focus on his calling. He is a protector of life and he could sense that things in this world were shifting in a direction that could lead to the death of many if left unchecked. Focusing on his form and tapping into his connection with Lugh, Paren finds emboldened in his resolve. The connection he has with Lugh seems strong here within the castle. He's unsure if it's because of the proximity to the obelisk hidden away in a cellar or his distance from cities devoted to the new gods.
Jonathan finds himself among peers as the concert comes to a close. The topics of discussion seem to dance between their joy of Finan's work and the state of business along the Glimmering Sea. Jonathan would be keenly aware that he's among nobles of minor houses that are under the fiefdom of Thousand Steps. All of the nobles seem to hold the Duke in high regard though you catch one or two of them seeming distrustful of the Duke's acceptance of outsiders as the workforce within the castle walls. Jonathan would recall that the Duke often hires the downtrodden that often are looking for a new way of life for their families.
What is Tanni up to this evening? As she continues through the halls, she finds that there are no references to the new gods to be seen at all. This is a bit welcoming as her home at the Forge lacked the dedication to the new gods as well. The Highland fascination with the new gods seemed a bit odd. While those that followed Sorata dedicated their work with her symbol on most they created, it wasn't so much a communal aspect as it was between the believer and the god.
Jonathan continues to mingle with what nobles will talk to him, though his skills in these social circles is probably a little outclassed and rusty. He isn't as smart and witty as his brother, nor as cunning a wordsmith as his sister, so makes do with what he can do, look physically impressive and talk about his lands back home. Assuming nothing terrible occurs during the main event, Jonathan takes some time to go find a quiet place to enjoy a drink in peace and reflect on all that's happened so far, and what he'll be doing next. He's never really dedicated time to working these things out, but right now he probably should do.
The evening continues as several more small performances follow Finan's offering music to dance to and good spirits to all that are gathered. Tanni, finds herself dancing with strangers listening to the strange music of the people of the coast. She finds that most of the crowd knows the words to all of the songs. It doesn't take long for her to realize they're most likely songs the crews of the ships sing while on a long journey.
The most wonderful part of all this is that the worries and stress of life outside of Thousand Steps fades away as the night continues. This break from world ending disaster has been rather welcome. Tanni's small stature in the crowd allows her to disappear into the wild celebration that only seems to ramp up as the night continues. Drinks and food are provided free of charge and many of the citizens are enjoying that benefit.
Here in Thousand Steps, the demographic of races is exceptionally wide. There are of course a large number of humans, dwarfs, and elves, but there are also a fair number of gnomes, halflings, and tabaxi. Tanni is most surprised to see a fair number of kobolds, tieflings, and lizardfolk here enjoying the party like the many others.
As Tanni looks around, she finds that all of her friends have split apart for the evening enjoying the bits of the castle and party that caught their eye.
Tanni stays at the party enjoying free drinks and food. After a while, emboldened by a fair amount of spirits, she strikes up a conversation with a couple of gnomes and dwarves there, seeing if there's anyone else interested in similar crafts to hers or familiar with Sunridge mountains. She's also interested in tabaxis as a race, as they are an unfamiliar people to her, and tries to either ask about them or invite one to the ongoing conversation.
Tanni makes quick friends with a small group of gnomes that are likewise enjoying the festivities. They all wear a small broach pinned to their collar that has a wrench resting on a spinning gear. Tanni would be familiar enough with the insignia to know that it is most likely associated with one of several tinker guilds popular in the Highlands.
When Tanni asks about the broach, the gnomes are more than willing to divulge an overabundance if information that would be over sharing to most but Tanni not only comprehends the information provided but enjoys the details offered by the fellow gnomes. She learns that the guild is known as The Gears of Koresica and is several members strong. Most of its members are employed along the Glimmering Sea as tool makers for ship makers and merchants. The gnomes seem to be very proud that they charge a rather large amount of coin for their services and tell Tanni that their wealth is how they ended up invited to this celebration.
"The Duke is looking to secure funds for Sector 4," one of the gnomes tells Tanni. "So he throws these parties to bring in donors. With all of his expenses for the expedition he's planning, there have been quite a number of parties."The gnome laughs. "Are you here as a benefactor as well?"
Bending down to examine the body, Falaine shouts, "Who goes there! What have you done! GUARDS!" At her feet, lay the split body of a tabaxi guard dressed in the same uniform the many others had worn. Laying in its own pool of blood, the young man seems to have been dead for quite some time. Falaine looks to the descending staircase but there is silence.
In that moment, the door bursts open [Falaine roll a DEX SAVE DC10. On a fail, take 6 door damage and fall prone]
Paren, bleeding from a large slash in his arm, pushes open the door shouting as loud as he can and trying to hold the wound closed. "Guards! Guards!"
Jonathan and Tanni, making their way from the celebration, find each other in the crowd. They share pleasantries as they make their way back to the rooms together. Once in the stairwell that descends down to the servant quarters they're staying, they hear the shouts from Falaine and Paren. The cries cause the two to pick up their pace as they rush down the stairs.
Finally the group is back together outside of the chambers standing over the body of a tabaxi guard that had been ordered to protect the visitors from threats while the caste was on lockdown. Even with the Duke's tight control over those traveling through his castle, his enemies seem to have tried to carry out their plan and even attacked Paren. Or are things really how they seem...
The group has but a few moments before the legion of guards will be arriving. What do they do???
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Falaine Dex save 19
Falaine deftly glides to a stop using the door's momentum. She squares off against Paren for a moment before realizing who he is.
She rights herself and comes up with a plan on short notice. "Put your weapons down. We won't want to fight. There are magics that can help us prove our innocence." She casts gentle repose on the body.
[GOING TO POST SOME INFORMATION FROM MY NOTES FOR THE PLAYERS. LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THIS IS PURELY A KNOWLEDGE DUMP OF NOTES. NOTHING SPECIFIC TO BE GAINED OR USED. Sorry for the redactions but some stuff is a bit too important to tell you at this moment. ]
Dieties
Old Gods
Lugh. Protector of the Forest - tree with a spear as a trunk
Daais, speaker of Lugh - none
Merveille, God of the Damned - Leafless tree
Grusk, Master of War (Tribal) - Tusks
Sorata- The Maker, the goddess of advancement
New Gods / The Family
Shamara - Mother of the Innocent - Open hands
Talos, Father of Knowledge - Open Book
Aiden, Son of Creativity - Coin with square whole
Camiela, Daughter of Protection
Landmarks
Sunridge Mountains borders the region to the west in the Lowlands.
Sunforge is the dwarven city located in the Sunridge Mountains and is the largest of the Lowland cities.
The Red Cliffs - Large cliffs that divide the Lowlands and the Highlands
Thornwood - farming community, feeds the Highlands. Lots of flowers. Home of Teren. The small town overlooks the Red Cliffs and is responsible for providing most of the Highlands food. The town is a few days south of an area several nobles have built large castles along the Glimmering Sea. Each castle is like its own town with the staff needed to maintain and operate them. There is also a nearby monastery that has been there for centuries if the stories are to be believed.
The Wishing Well - An inn normally home to thieves and scoundrels has found business much slower now that the period of peace has been going on for so long. Owned and Operated by an elven couple that doesn’t ask a lot of questions.
The Grove - Home to the obelisk of Lugh where Paren has called home [redacted] after Cleg’s passing. What makes the Grove so divine is the steady stream that flows through it. The calming nature brings animals from around the forest here in peace. Recently, the stream ran dry due to someone blocking the head far to the east with trees. Oppenholdt was able to summon an earth elemental to free the blockage but the rush of water toppled the obelisk.
Talia’s Tonics and Tinkerings - This shop is off the main road and is where Talia sells her potions and other magical items. The body of the half orc was brought to her to make sure there weren’t any lingering effects.
[redacted]
Areas around the Glimmering Sea
Thousand Steps - a small keep surrounded by a larger sprawling bailey. It is built amongst steep grazing land atop the high cliffs that overlook the Glimmering Sea. It was originally the site of a beacon and a crofter's hut, around which a small settlement grew. The settlement expanded when iron and semi-precious stones were discovered in the hills. The path down to the sea was treacherous and, when the keep was built, steps were cut to link the narrow, rocky inlet with the clifftop hold. A little known fact is that there are actually only 973 steps. Most trade is by the High Road that connects the coastal towns to Thornwood. Currently ruled by Duke Raemon Aoili,
Caterona, a large city built along the Glimmering Sea coast where much of the shipping occurs between the region and the region to the north.
Suncrest, the easternmost castle along the Glimmering Sea is the first to see the morning sun as it sits high into the mountain bluff. [Redacted] presides over the castle and surrounding lands.
The Northern Settlements - The Glimmering Sea was once too vast to explore until the advancement of sailing techniques. [redacted]
[Redacted]
The High Road - this road connects most of the settlements, castles, and towns along the coast of the Glimmering Sea.
Notable NPCs
Master Hammerstone - One of the great masters of Sunforge that helped to design the forge that uses a flow of magma to keep the temperatures steady. Used to work a lot with Master Norri before [redacted].
Master Rorri - The most skilled blacksmith of Sunforge and ran the Black Ram Smithy. The entire guard of the Sunridge Mountains has custom made BRS armor. Crafted the Sunforge itself with the help of Master Hammerstone. [Redacted]. His smithy was left to Bomdir
Bomdir - Blacksmith and owner of the new The Black Ram Smithy. Rumor has it that he plans to sell it to a Highlander Elf.
Bearmar: Master brewer Bearmar is in town for the Bridge Festival. He has brought a special ale that he feels could be what pushes him into first place. He shared a ride with Finan into town from the Lowlands. The ale was served at the Wishing Well with a giant bear head on the cask.
Lord Commander Zynphura, Acolyte of Shamara, and guard boss in Holden Heights. Met with Knok and Quentin after the saved the halforc injured in the wagon crash. Angel of Shamara. Deceased
Messenger Krusk, speaker to Shamara in Holden Heights. (Does not speak celestial). Deceased
Renard and Ombre Sournois - Owners and operators of the Holden Heights Wishing Well, an inn once coveted for its secrecy by those with criminal intents. The furnishings are extravagant and the owners pay little attention to its guests dealings.
Oppenholdt Gloxbie - Master of Magic to Lord Rynholt. Saved Knok from a bear trap and has been helping to raise him as a contributing member of society. As a skilled wizard, he’s investigating the water shortage that hit the city suddenly before the Bridge Festival.
Lord Rynholt - Current mayor of Holden Heights
Gunthar Walamak - Skilled archaeologist and purveyor of ancient artifacts. This half orc was heading into the city when he fell under an aggressive compulsion caused by Merveille. He was flung from his wagon and saved by Knok and Quentin. All of his items were stolen by unknown merchants that disappeared after the accident. He later died “from wounds suffered in the brawl with Knok and Quentin.” Status: (?) Assumed Deceased
Dahlille Greenfeather - Elven Ranger that was assaulted on her way into Holden Heights by Gunthar Walamak. She was able to leap from the wagon to the horse to settle it after Quentin ripped the reigns from her hands and caused the wagon to run off the path. She and her cargo were quickly escorted into the city and hasn’t been seen since.
Sunspot - Tiefling woman running the Blacksmith competition. She was saved from the fallen debris of the bell tower by Knok.
Talia, owner and sole operator of Talia’s Tonics and Tinkerings. She is a taller gnome sporting an apron filled with thin vials in slots similar to a bandoleer. She has a fairly large leather satchel at her side that is packed full of herbs. The group learned that Talia studied at a monastery near Thornwood and found books detailing Lugh and Merveille.
[Redacted]
[Redacted]
[Redacted]
Duke Raemon Aoili, second of his name, Duke of Thousand Steps, Defender of the North, Master of the Broken, and humble Vassal of the King
The Gears of Koresica - a good sized tinkering guild that are known to make tools and devices for the ship maker and merchants along the Glimmering Sea.
Far on the horizon, Tanni can see several large ships that have taken anchor. It's hard to see the flags they fly at this distance but both ships look to be made of similar design.
Paren quickly ducks back into his room before emerging again, his hands now in two full pockets. As the others walk past his room they can see his shield propped at the end of the bed but the symbol in the centre seems to be missing. With both his pockets heavy it's not hard to figure out where it may have gone.
When they get to the meal Paren stares at the fancy plates and cutlery for a while before leaning over. "Jonathan. Why are there extra spoons and forks on the table?"
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
The meal continues without interruption and Candise approaches the table once it's cleared. "Do you need to return to your chambers prior to the performance or are you all ready now?"
(Happy new year. Would've responded earlier, but access to computer was limited.)
Jonathan sighs as Paren's constant questions. "They are for the different dishes provided during a meal. Honestly, some folks really don't understand etiquette. The easy way to work it out is each course you work from the outside cutlery and then inward for each course after. That fork and spoon is reserved for dessert."
OOC @ all
So, it's about time I checked in; First off I deeply apologize for the unannounced absence. It's both the holidays and just life repeatedly causing trouble for the past three years, to the point where I can't bring up the motivation and joy to invest a lot of time in PbP, despite really enjoying the characters I play(ed). Especially here. Finan and this entire campaign are my favorite, out of every DnD campaign I've played ever.
I hope I'll be able to return to the forums with a healthy state of mind sometime soon, but for now I need to focus on other aspects of my life. Good luck to you all, and enjoy!
Lynn-Marie Verine-Wintercleaver, Human Bloodhunter - Adventures in Esyldien
Finan Caible, Human Bard - Joys of Balance
Yroc Grumbak, Orc Fighlock - Pizazz's ToA
Arell Peroan, Half-Elf Warlonk - Scattered Gods
ESC! | 10|33|5~
The dinner comes to an end after too much food is served and eaten. The view of the sea had been breathtaking and it had taken your mind away from the struggles and pains that Holden Heights weighed on you. It was in this moment of peace that you were able to calm yourselves and think of things outside of the approaching war of the gods. In Thousand Steps, they seemed to have little care for the gods of new or old and just went about their lives appreciating the arts and making coin of the fishing trade. The sounds of the crowds on the other side of the castle erupt in cheers as the music comes to an end.
Candise gathers the group and escorts them, with several guards of course, through the main halls of the castle where proper guests are shown. The extravagance and wealth is more than apparent here as you're walked past sculptures and paintings worth more coin than one could carry. Fishing artifacts are mounted to the wall in displays showing the importance that the craft held on the founding of the city and its rapid growth.
Religion check DC10 to read:
You're aware that Shamara had blessed the coasts to have an abundance of fish thus increasing the bounty of the small fishing villages here. This caused their rapid growth into the strongholds they are today. The absence of anything thanking her for this miracle seems off.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A guard stops the group at a doorway and they size up Finan. "You're on next." The guard says. "Have you your instrument?" Finan grabs his shawm with an excited smile and then follows the man through the doorway and down a long hallway until he's out of site. Candise motions to follow and moves quickly toward the next set of doors. Opening them, you see a massive crowd has gathered in an earthen amphitheater. There had to be thousands here. With the restrictions on the castle, you realize just how big Thousand Steps is in relation to the the towns you came from. All gathered here look to have had a few bottles of wine and cheer with excitement as you watch Finan take his steps onto the large stage.
You can see a bit of shock in Finan's eyes as he takes in the largest crowd he's ever performed in front of. This shock quickly fades as he begins to play his shawm. The tune starts out with a very somber tone and matching vocals that are more spoken than sung. You can feel the crowd being drawn into the music as they sway to the rhythm. As the song shifts into a more upbeat melody, the crowd goes wild with cheers and dancing. They seem to love him. You're filled with a bit of pride with how well the performance is going and you can see Finan beaming with glee.
The performance continues with several more songs and a few stories told by the bard. The crowd is completely enamored with him and you can tell that today has changed Finan's life for the better. When word reaches the party that Finan has been conscripted to be the new bard to the baron, you're not even surprised after the performance. If the world was going to end, at least Finan would be doing what he loved.
The group spends most of the evening celebrating Finan and his accomplishment. There is heartfelt sadness for several as they realize that Finan would be leaving this journey but joy in seeing the person they'd grown to love accomplishing so much. The gods were strange creatures though and Finan may be drawn back into their squabbles should they desire it. After all, Aiden has his hand in everything...
[OOC:
It is with great sadness that I see Finan taking a break but I think it's important that we all understand the importance of self care. If you ever feel that the game has become a sort of burden or if life has just been too much for you, please know that I completely understand that taking a break is often the best thing to do. This is only a game and should never take priority over your actual life. I hope you are all doing well and if you ever need to talk about anything, I'm here for you.
For the time being, Finan will be working with the Duke. If the player wishes to return, we'll work on getting him back into the story. Let me know if you have any questions. I may be pulling some people from Team2 if I feel it is needed to keep this party a reasonable size.
Religion: 7 (Ya, that checks out for Paren)
Paren spends as much time as he can with his friend before they part ways. Though they never seemed to agree he counted on Finan to keep him honest and to give him perspective.
Any other free time is spent in his room, his Yklwa spinning about his head as he practices the graceful movements that he was taught but has neglected in the recent chaos.
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
No worries Mat_Yuren. Personal health and IRL comes first, as it should do. It's been great playing with you, and hopefully things will be working out for the better soon. If we end up playing again in the future, then all the better, and welcome Finan back with open arms... not that Jonathan would give him a hug or anything...
(For the heck of it) Religion: 15
Jonathan isn't a huge fan of fish, preferring rich cuts from more land-based beasts. However, if they prize fishing and other water-based things, that's fine. After all, this place is a coastal city. He ensures that his clothing is sitting properly, lightly tugging the waistcoat so it is in place. As the evening entertainments continue, he attempts to mingle a little with those in the court, the gentry is of course his natural habitat. As the crowds gather around Finan, he feels some minor selfish bits of pride, as it is one of his group that is causing the masses to go wild (or as wild as they go in decent company).
As the night goes on, and the revelation of the parting of ways comes through, there is a little moment of sorrow in Jonathan's mind. However, he somewhat feels content that one of his companions has found their place, and in good company, too. Perhaps in the future he may come a visit the duke again, hopefully on less tenuous circumstances, and listen to Finan perform for them once again.
[RECAP that will hopefully answer some questions that the characters would know and the players may have missed]
The easiest way to describe the Lugh and Merveille relationship it is that they are two personalities of the same person. Daais can be considered an angel to Lugh/Merveille and is their living presence on the plane.
The knowledge that they're the same person has mostly been lost over the course of time from when the new gods took over. The party is starting to uncover the truth behind Lugh/Merveille.
There have been hints at the relationship between L/M and the new gods. For some reason, L/M accepted eternal rest and left the godly duties to the new gods. This is part of the reason that the the two haven't been heard from in so long and why their number of followers has decreased so sharply. Something has caused this treaty to end resulting in the resurgence of the old gods and their activity lately.
The party knows that Gunthar was researching an ancient site that offered eternal life. He was to bring back his findings to Krusk at the Shrine of Shamara. These findings included a dagger. Aiden's followers intercepted this dagger and had it delivered to him.
The party has learned that the site Gunthar was exploring was protected from the new gods and that's why Gunthar was tasked with the mission. Gunthar had been known as a sort of crazy in the archaeologist community and thought that this would be his chance to bring honor to his name. It's unclear where the site is located or how Gunthar got there.
Only one person in the party has actually seen this sacred site that Gunthar ravaged looking for things.
The party knows that Talia had studied at the monastery near Thornwood and found some texts relating to Lugh and Merveille there. This could be where she learned how to manipulate the blight that she found in Gunthar. Talia had just traveled from the monastery prior to the bridge festival. The party knows that Talia is a follower of Aiden. Is it possible that she learned of Gunthar's quest while at the monastery and came back to Holden Heights with that info?
The party intercepted a letter that had been destined for Krusk that seemed to have been written by Aiden. The letter was a threat hidden behind prose. It seemed to indicate that Shamara had been too power hungry and that Aiden was done being a part of her plan. Aiden mentioned that "out of your aura, we find strength". This could mean that away from the influence of the new gods, there is an uprising and that Aiden is part of it.
[hope this clears some things up. Please let me know if you have any further questions!!]
Religion check: 19
Falaine gives Finan a big hug upon learning of his conscription. She spends much of the time after the dinner and the show trying to collect her thoughts on what has transpired (thanks for the recap). As they're traveling through the castle she'll cast speak with plants just to see how any green life is being treated.
Tanni takes note of the lack of gratitude for Shamara, absent-mindedly mentioning it to her companions as they follow Candise through the lavish halls. "Weird how they seem to live mostly of fishing but there's no pictures or anything depicting Shamara. She's the one who supposedly blessed these waters with the plentiful bounty the town fills its nets with." When Finan takes off to perform, Tanni grins and slaps him on his lower back and urges him to play his fingers off.
Tanni enjoys the music and dancing, though she's clearly uncomfortable with her dress. She keeps tugging it, not accustomed to such a restrictive piece of clothing. When the news of Finan's new career comes up, Tanni is happy for her friend. Even though she won't admit it, she feels a pang of sadness seeing their friend staying behind. Seeing how trouble seems to follow each of them, they might meet Finan again in a middle of some adventurous event and this thought gives Tanni a strange feeling of glee.
Falaine finds that the plants throughout the castle seem to be tended to with a fair amount of care and all seem to be local to the region. There aren't a lot of green spaces within the castle itself so the plants most likely were grown on the inland side of the castecity and brought here. After stopping and looking at a planter full of small succulents near a window, she's approached by a guard dressed in rather fine garb but still wearing the same styled necklace the other tabaxi guards wear. She looks to Falaine with a look of understanding as she says, "Your company is being requested."
Paren finds comfort in the structure of his training. After all that has happened today, it helps him to center and focus on his calling. He is a protector of life and he could sense that things in this world were shifting in a direction that could lead to the death of many if left unchecked. Focusing on his form and tapping into his connection with Lugh, Paren finds emboldened in his resolve. The connection he has with Lugh seems strong here within the castle. He's unsure if it's because of the proximity to the obelisk hidden away in a cellar or his distance from cities devoted to the new gods.
Jonathan finds himself among peers as the concert comes to a close. The topics of discussion seem to dance between their joy of Finan's work and the state of business along the Glimmering Sea. Jonathan would be keenly aware that he's among nobles of minor houses that are under the fiefdom of Thousand Steps. All of the nobles seem to hold the Duke in high regard though you catch one or two of them seeming distrustful of the Duke's acceptance of outsiders as the workforce within the castle walls. Jonathan would recall that the Duke often hires the downtrodden that often are looking for a new way of life for their families.
What is Tanni up to this evening? As she continues through the halls, she finds that there are no references to the new gods to be seen at all. This is a bit welcoming as her home at the Forge lacked the dedication to the new gods as well. The Highland fascination with the new gods seemed a bit odd. While those that followed Sorata dedicated their work with her symbol on most they created, it wasn't so much a communal aspect as it was between the believer and the god.
[a some roll for something...
26
Jonathan continues to mingle with what nobles will talk to him, though his skills in these social circles is probably a little outclassed and rusty. He isn't as smart and witty as his brother, nor as cunning a wordsmith as his sister, so makes do with what he can do, look physically impressive and talk about his lands back home. Assuming nothing terrible occurs during the main event, Jonathan takes some time to go find a quiet place to enjoy a drink in peace and reflect on all that's happened so far, and what he'll be doing next. He's never really dedicated time to working these things out, but right now he probably should do.
The evening continues as several more small performances follow Finan's offering music to dance to and good spirits to all that are gathered. Tanni, finds herself dancing with strangers listening to the strange music of the people of the coast. She finds that most of the crowd knows the words to all of the songs. It doesn't take long for her to realize they're most likely songs the crews of the ships sing while on a long journey.
The most wonderful part of all this is that the worries and stress of life outside of Thousand Steps fades away as the night continues. This break from world ending disaster has been rather welcome. Tanni's small stature in the crowd allows her to disappear into the wild celebration that only seems to ramp up as the night continues. Drinks and food are provided free of charge and many of the citizens are enjoying that benefit.
Here in Thousand Steps, the demographic of races is exceptionally wide. There are of course a large number of humans, dwarfs, and elves, but there are also a fair number of gnomes, halflings, and tabaxi. Tanni is most surprised to see a fair number of kobolds, tieflings, and lizardfolk here enjoying the party like the many others.
As Tanni looks around, she finds that all of her friends have split apart for the evening enjoying the bits of the castle and party that caught their eye.
Tanni stays at the party enjoying free drinks and food. After a while, emboldened by a fair amount of spirits, she strikes up a conversation with a couple of gnomes and dwarves there, seeing if there's anyone else interested in similar crafts to hers or familiar with Sunridge mountains. She's also interested in tabaxis as a race, as they are an unfamiliar people to her, and tries to either ask about them or invite one to the ongoing conversation.
Tanni makes quick friends with a small group of gnomes that are likewise enjoying the festivities. They all wear a small broach pinned to their collar that has a wrench resting on a spinning gear. Tanni would be familiar enough with the insignia to know that it is most likely associated with one of several tinker guilds popular in the Highlands.
When Tanni asks about the broach, the gnomes are more than willing to divulge an overabundance if information that would be over sharing to most but Tanni not only comprehends the information provided but enjoys the details offered by the fellow gnomes. She learns that the guild is known as The Gears of Koresica and is several members strong. Most of its members are employed along the Glimmering Sea as tool makers for ship makers and merchants. The gnomes seem to be very proud that they charge a rather large amount of coin for their services and tell Tanni that their wealth is how they ended up invited to this celebration.
"The Duke is looking to secure funds for Sector 4," one of the gnomes tells Tanni. "So he throws these parties to bring in donors. With all of his expenses for the expedition he's planning, there have been quite a number of parties." The gnome laughs. "Are you here as a benefactor as well?"
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Bending down to examine the body, Falaine shouts, "Who goes there! What have you done! GUARDS!" At her feet, lay the split body of a tabaxi guard dressed in the same uniform the many others had worn. Laying in its own pool of blood, the young man seems to have been dead for quite some time. Falaine looks to the descending staircase but there is silence.
In that moment, the door bursts open [Falaine roll a DEX SAVE DC10. On a fail, take 6 door damage and fall prone]
Paren, bleeding from a large slash in his arm, pushes open the door shouting as loud as he can and trying to hold the wound closed. "Guards! Guards!"
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Jonathan and Tanni, making their way from the celebration, find each other in the crowd. They share pleasantries as they make their way back to the rooms together. Once in the stairwell that descends down to the servant quarters they're staying, they hear the shouts from Falaine and Paren. The cries cause the two to pick up their pace as they rush down the stairs.
Finally the group is back together outside of the chambers standing over the body of a tabaxi guard that had been ordered to protect the visitors from threats while the caste was on lockdown. Even with the Duke's tight control over those traveling through his castle, his enemies seem to have tried to carry out their plan and even attacked Paren. Or are things really how they seem...
The group has but a few moments before the legion of guards will be arriving. What do they do???
Falaine Dex save 19
Falaine deftly glides to a stop using the door's momentum. She squares off against Paren for a moment before realizing who he is.
She rights herself and comes up with a plan on short notice. "Put your weapons down. We won't want to fight. There are magics that can help us prove our innocence." She casts gentle repose on the body.
(Insight on Paren) 16
[GOING TO POST SOME INFORMATION FROM MY NOTES FOR THE PLAYERS. LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THIS IS PURELY A KNOWLEDGE DUMP OF NOTES. NOTHING SPECIFIC TO BE GAINED OR USED. Sorry for the redactions but some stuff is a bit too important to tell you at this moment. ]
Dieties
Old Gods
New Gods / The Family
Landmarks
Home of Teren. The small town overlooks the Red Cliffs and is responsible for providing most of the Highlands food. The town is a few days south of an area several nobles have built large castles along the Glimmering Sea. Each castle is like its own town with the staff needed to maintain and operate them. There is also a nearby monastery that has been there for centuries if the stories are to be believed.Areas around the Glimmering Sea
Notable NPCs
is in town for the Bridge Festival. He has brought a special ale that he feels could be what pushes him into first place. He shared a ride with Finan into town from the Lowlands. The ale was served at the Wishing Well with a giant bear head on the cask.Letter intercepted from Aiden to Krusk/Shamara
[Enjoy the reading]