As soon as Yoric and Graddor exit the gate of the manor, the half-orc turns to the halfling sputtering. "If you....that little stunt.... I can't believe you would... AUGH!" He look down and takes a deep breath and tries again. "Because you saved my life, and indeed, because that went as well as can be expected, I am allowing you to take the Folna and leave without my boot up your arse. I have never dealt with a group as purely incompetent, as impudent, as irreverent as, purely....lucky as you lot. Just go -- and I pray to the Engineer, and all the old Gods, hells, even to these hags you're obsessed with that you never set in Yellow Creek again."
Just then, you hear a slight whoosh of air, and the Folna lifts off slightly off the roof of the barracks still moored by ropes. Graddor spins around and gasps, and you see him swell with pride ever so slightly. "And my prayers are answered. Goodbye, bard. I hope I never see any of you again."
Yoric walks with Graddor towards the ship. “You’re right, I’m sure. It’s hard to plan on being anywhere.” Then with a sidelong glance “Still... I’ll be sure to write.”
With his keen elvish eyes Thalion spots the bard and the half-orc far below and waves exuberantly.
Chest puffed up proudly, he announces,"Look here, friends! Captain Graddor's giving Yoric a fond farewell, I'm sure. Who would have thought that the legend of Thalion Strongbow and his companions would spread all the way to remote Yellow Creek?"
Grin -- as the others make your preparations, you play with the flintlock a little more, studying the sparking mechanism and how the chemical reaction works to propel the ball out. In theory, you are able to reason it out, and you feel comfortable enough with it to be able to perhaps wield it in the next battle you find yourself in -- after all, in principle it isn't ALL that different from your sling.
(Grin you may add your proficency bonus to using illegal, older style pistols in combat, going forward -- great rolls!)
As all of you gather aboard the Folna, Chief Brightaxe calls you over the internal speaker system to come to the navigation room. There , with a big view on the town of Yellow Creek below you, does the dwarf press the button that drops the moorings and lefts you up, up, up.
The first thing you notice is a feeling of slight lightheadedness, as though your lungs aren't quite getting enough air to breath. Brightaxe notices this and grins "You get used to that, you do. The air up 'ere is a lot thinner. Your lungs need more of it to keep you going! Oh, and one thing I should mention. Be careful with any spells you may cast in 'ere. The old girl is a bit tempermental and she don't take to magic much. 'er engines are liable to stop working and we'd plummet quite a ways down." He seems very excited, his eyes swiveling between the navigational charts that he and Alden put together and all of you, watching your reaction as the Folna gains more and more altitude.
Soon, Yellow Creek is tiny, as though a child's model of a town and you see more -- the Corropolese Mountains, then beyond them, the Kingdom of Granholm, covered by magical darkness to prevent this exact type of aerial reconnaissance. As the ship moves, surprisingly smoothly, southward, turning away from Yellow Creek, you see the massive skyscrapers and new buildings of Valance on the horizon. It was, only a few years ago, an insurmountable distance, defeated by the locomotive, then devastated by this airship technology. The entire continent of Navarre seems to spread below you. Surrounding the city of Valance, Thalion, you in particular notice the patches of verdant green that seem to challenge the skyscrapers of Valance in height. It is the great Redwood Forest, but you can't help but notice how it even the forest is starting to resemble more of a patchwork, a legacy of the logging of the forest you've fought for decades.
Corin Brightaxe's eyes shine with excitement as he discusses the Folna and air travel in general. "Some of the newer ships can make the journey in about forty-five minutes. They're death from above, they are. That's why Granholm wouldn't dare risk another war."
Doctor Aleksei, whose already reliably surly mood has darkened even further as the trip to Valance began, does not turn from the window he's staring out at. "They won't need to if we hobble ourselves. Which is what's happening all around us." He looks at you all and sighs. "I am going to the captain's quarters, with your permission of course, Chief, and preparing some of the herbs I need." As he passes by you Grin, he grips your shoulder and whispers "Make sure you get your elf friend to a temple when you get to Valance, or your trip to the Redwood Forest will be a short one. One of the hag's already got her long bony fingers around him."
(You all have some free time with a scheduled landing in Valance right around mid-afternoon.)
At first Thalion drops into a crouch and clings for dear life to whatever is around him, but as he adjusts to the new sensation of flying he peers out of a window to marvel at the view.
What starts as a wide-eyed expression filled with wonder sours as the Redwood Forests come into view. He has to turn away after the initial excitement at seeing his home turns to anger at the sorry state of the fragmented forest.
Gripping the amulet in one hand and one of his shortswords in the other, Thalion finds a place far enough away from the others to not do them any unintended harm and practices his thrusts and swings while they fly, his motions becoming more and more wild and imprecise.
Yoric waves the pipe around as he talks. “I have a way with people who are - perhaps - less inclined to talk to members of the King’s Watch. Common folk. And,” he says with a grin and pointing the pipe “I’m lucky. Things go better when I’m around. It’s a knack.”
Yoric gives Alden a more serious look. “Inspector, I know why I’m here, and I suspect you know, too. And I know why a Watchman is here. But why are - you- here? Why - this- watchman. Especially for a job that would certainly invite such conflicts of morality, or at least policy.”
Alden laughs out loud. A deep laugh. "If you think I am going to make some grand reveal of my reasons and or purpose Master Furfoot, you will be very disappointed." Alden says.
He laughs again.
"I am sworn to do my duty for King and Country." he states "How I do that has always been left up to me."
Alden gazes out over the landscape but says volunteers little else.
This trip to Valance continues along, and its remarkably relaxing once you get used to the thinness of the air -- as you move further southward, you begin to see the resort city of Larouche and the blue Sapphire Seas appear beyond the skyscrapers of Valance. It reminds you how beautiful the kingdom is, how utterly unbelievable it could be that some corruption is working behind the scenes to twist the kingdom is some unfortunate direction. And yet...your past dealings, especially in the mine have shown you there is...something there.
Aleksei spends the entire voyage locked in the captain's quarters -- working, he says, on the precise materials he needs to cure King Brocc. As for the rest of you, just as you get comfortable in the journey, you hear Chief Petty Officer Brightaxe's voice come over the ship's internal communication system, so you hear it in every room.
“Ah, sirs, and miss of course. We're pretty close to Valance and I just received a message from the central command. We are to redirect to the, uh... Valance Gaol in the Parapets. They, um… ‘ave their guns trained on us, so uh I’m going to put us down there. You may want to um… brace yourselves.”
The airship sputters as the dwarf eases the craft onto a large landing pad on the roof of the prison. As you get closer, any of you who remain by the windows see a pretty decently sized crowd gathered on the roof, waiting for the airship, including a few figures in the uniform of the city watch.
Aleksei bursts out of the captain's quarters to watch the descent, his face betraying some degree of concern. He whispers a prayer and begins unpacking his things from his racksack, laying them down on the floor of the navigation chamber.
You feel like you’ve been shoved very hard as the craft comes to rest. Brightaxe's voice comes over the internal communication system again, this time with a note of wariness. “ We're 'ere, sirs and miss. I reckon this welcoming party ain't 'ere for me, so if you'd kindly 'ead on out afore me, I'd much appreciate it."
A bit confused by all this Alden will gather his gear and head off the ship to the "dock" (I take it?) and see what all the commotion is about.
Alden will tell Aleksei before departing: "It might be best if you stay out of sight for the moment. Not sure what is going on but i am not getting a good feeling about all this."
Yoric slips the pipe in his belt and heads on out with the rest. “I thought Nevlav sent word ahead. Nevlav, aren’t you... you know. ‘The Man’? Don’t you have pull in this sort of thing?”
As Grin and Alden step out onto the dock of Valance Gaol, you notice that the city guardsman who are waiting for you are all wearing protective masks. They are led by an inspector whose build makes him undeniably recognizable as a Goliath -- albeit one smaller than normal. Alden, you are able to recognize him (check your PMs shortly).
As soon as you step onto the gangplank, he raises his hand to stop you from coming closer. "Halt! By the order of the Committee of Public Safety all individuals who had contact with the infected Admiral Tevis Garrock are to surrender themselves to quarantine until such time they are proven to be free from infection."
The Goliath cocks his head at Grin's forceful manner and her clear diction as she speaks, seemingly less certain of himself. "Uh... be that as it may, Ma'am, I have me orders. You are to surrender the traitor Artur Felix to the guard here and I am escort you all to the quarantine quarters below." You can see him mentally reciting all the formal notes he was supposed to hit. "Oh! The Crown thanks you for your service and you will still receive your reward and audience with Prince Neskor, provided you do not fall ill during quarantine."
He steps a step closer, still a safe distance away and he adds "Hullo, Lostchild, fancy seeing you here, eh?"
Alden walks from the ship to the dock directly to where Stairclimber is standing, ignoring anything they say, talking while he does this. He does this as an experiment to see how the inspector and guard will react.
Ignoring the obvious barb, Alden will ask: "That's funny Stairclimber. This small band has captured the greatest villain to the kingdom. We've been away, at Admiral Garrock's request inspecting the mine at Yellow Creek." Alden pauses.
"And the only thing we brought back was "A DOG", Alden says a bit too loudly, "that the old halfling has become too attached to." hoping the druid hears that part.
(man I didn't choose deception as one of my skills to have.....but here goes nothing)
Deception:12
"What's all this then Stairclimber?" Alden will say looking up into the masked Goliath's face. "We're on a mission at the request of the Admiral. Your authority doesn't exceed his. Sick or not, his orders are orders and those are orders from the Crown itself."
Alden will use intimidation on the Goliath. Not as much to try and spook his as to cause him to slip up a bit and reveal something he shouldn't.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(Alden -- roll a perception check to see what you can pick up in your immediate surroundings; Grin, you can join in on this roll too.)
DM Screen
20
The Goliath laughs hard at Alden's obvious lie. "See, that's your problem, mate. You always thought you were so much smarter than everyone else on the watch. I know all about your mission. Probably more than you do, in fact!"
Alden, you can't tell particularly if you attempt to intimidate the Goliath unnerved him or merely annoyed him, but either way, he responds petulantly to you. "And the Admiral has been relieved of his authority, for now. The old boy's a shadow of himself, hallucinations, seeing conspiracies everywhere. Poor sod. Not likely long for this world, unless something miraculous occurs. Its taking all our best healers to keep King Brocc from slipping even further. Don't worry, if you're not infected, you'll get your reward, if that's what you're worried about. Not every day someone reels in the son of the infamous Aleksander Felix. That's how the Committee knew the old boy was crazy. The traitor Artur Felix as the saviour of the Realm?" He whistles through the mask. "I reckon there's enough glory for both us. Commissioner Capet of the Committee assured me of that!"
As soon as Yoric and Graddor exit the gate of the manor, the half-orc turns to the halfling sputtering. "If you....that little stunt.... I can't believe you would... AUGH!" He look down and takes a deep breath and tries again. "Because you saved my life, and indeed, because that went as well as can be expected, I am allowing you to take the Folna and leave without my boot up your arse. I have never dealt with a group as purely incompetent, as impudent, as irreverent as, purely....lucky as you lot. Just go -- and I pray to the Engineer, and all the old Gods, hells, even to these hags you're obsessed with that you never set in Yellow Creek again."
Just then, you hear a slight whoosh of air, and the Folna lifts off slightly off the roof of the barracks still moored by ropes. Graddor spins around and gasps, and you see him swell with pride ever so slightly. "And my prayers are answered. Goodbye, bard. I hope I never see any of you again."
Yoric walks with Graddor towards the ship. “You’re right, I’m sure. It’s hard to plan on being anywhere.” Then with a sidelong glance “Still... I’ll be sure to write.”
And he goes to board the Folna.
Paladin - warforged - orange
With his keen elvish eyes Thalion spots the bard and the half-orc far below and waves exuberantly.
Chest puffed up proudly, he announces, "Look here, friends! Captain Graddor's giving Yoric a fond farewell, I'm sure. Who would have thought that the legend of Thalion Strongbow and his companions would spread all the way to remote Yellow Creek?"
Grin -- as the others make your preparations, you play with the flintlock a little more, studying the sparking mechanism and how the chemical reaction works to propel the ball out. In theory, you are able to reason it out, and you feel comfortable enough with it to be able to perhaps wield it in the next battle you find yourself in -- after all, in principle it isn't ALL that different from your sling.
(Grin you may add your proficency bonus to using illegal, older style pistols in combat, going forward -- great rolls!)
As all of you gather aboard the Folna, Chief Brightaxe calls you over the internal speaker system to come to the navigation room. There , with a big view on the town of Yellow Creek below you, does the dwarf press the button that drops the moorings and lefts you up, up, up.
The first thing you notice is a feeling of slight lightheadedness, as though your lungs aren't quite getting enough air to breath. Brightaxe notices this and grins "You get used to that, you do. The air up 'ere is a lot thinner. Your lungs need more of it to keep you going! Oh, and one thing I should mention. Be careful with any spells you may cast in 'ere. The old girl is a bit tempermental and she don't take to magic much. 'er engines are liable to stop working and we'd plummet quite a ways down." He seems very excited, his eyes swiveling between the navigational charts that he and Alden put together and all of you, watching your reaction as the Folna gains more and more altitude.
Soon, Yellow Creek is tiny, as though a child's model of a town and you see more -- the Corropolese Mountains, then beyond them, the Kingdom of Granholm, covered by magical darkness to prevent this exact type of aerial reconnaissance. As the ship moves, surprisingly smoothly, southward, turning away from Yellow Creek, you see the massive skyscrapers and new buildings of Valance on the horizon. It was, only a few years ago, an insurmountable distance, defeated by the locomotive, then devastated by this airship technology. The entire continent of Navarre seems to spread below you. Surrounding the city of Valance, Thalion, you in particular notice the patches of verdant green that seem to challenge the skyscrapers of Valance in height. It is the great Redwood Forest, but you can't help but notice how it even the forest is starting to resemble more of a patchwork, a legacy of the logging of the forest you've fought for decades.
Corin Brightaxe's eyes shine with excitement as he discusses the Folna and air travel in general. "Some of the newer ships can make the journey in about forty-five minutes. They're death from above, they are. That's why Granholm wouldn't dare risk another war."
Doctor Aleksei, whose already reliably surly mood has darkened even further as the trip to Valance began, does not turn from the window he's staring out at. "They won't need to if we hobble ourselves. Which is what's happening all around us." He looks at you all and sighs. "I am going to the captain's quarters, with your permission of course, Chief, and preparing some of the herbs I need." As he passes by you Grin, he grips your shoulder and whispers "Make sure you get your elf friend to a temple when you get to Valance, or your trip to the Redwood Forest will be a short one. One of the hag's already got her long bony fingers around him."
(You all have some free time with a scheduled landing in Valance right around mid-afternoon.)
Yoric is going to play around with the pipe he got from Lady Raskiel, while following Alden a bit.
”So you - are - an inspector? Or -were-? Who are you, Alden?”
Paladin - warforged - orange
Alden
As Brightaxe talks Alden looks to the engines. "They go wokey if you cast spells?" he asks to himself.
Alden will find Grin and ask quietly "Do these engines draw magic in and run on it?" he asks. 'Would you detect it if they did?"
Alden busys himself with helping around the ship as much as he can.
Followed by Yoric is not one of his favorite things in life but, its a small ship.
"You might not want to blow that pipe while up this high. You might be taken precious air out of your lungs you need to breath." Alden says mildly.
Listening to Yoric's question Alden responds "I'm a member of the King's Watch, yes."
"Who are you Yoric?" he asks while stowing some items and gear. "What brought you on such a grand adventure?"
At first Thalion drops into a crouch and clings for dear life to whatever is around him, but as he adjusts to the new sensation of flying he peers out of a window to marvel at the view.
What starts as a wide-eyed expression filled with wonder sours as the Redwood Forests come into view. He has to turn away after the initial excitement at seeing his home turns to anger at the sorry state of the fragmented forest.
Gripping the amulet in one hand and one of his shortswords in the other, Thalion finds a place far enough away from the others to not do them any unintended harm and practices his thrusts and swings while they fly, his motions becoming more and more wild and imprecise.
Yoric waves the pipe around as he talks. “I have a way with people who are - perhaps - less inclined to talk to members of the King’s Watch. Common folk. And,” he says with a grin and pointing the pipe “I’m lucky. Things go better when I’m around. It’s a knack.”
Yoric gives Alden a more serious look. “Inspector, I know why I’m here, and I suspect you know, too. And I know why a Watchman is here. But why are - you- here? Why - this- watchman. Especially for a job that would certainly invite such conflicts of morality, or at least policy.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
Alden
Alden laughs out loud. A deep laugh. "If you think I am going to make some grand reveal of my reasons and or purpose Master Furfoot, you will be very disappointed." Alden says.
He laughs again.
"I am sworn to do my duty for King and Country." he states "How I do that has always been left up to me."
Alden gazes out over the landscape but says volunteers little else.
“Suit yourself,” Yoric shrugs. “But I hope you know this effort will lead to some choices. When the cards are down, most will choose a sincere soul.”
Yoric walks away, and starts beating out a rhythm with the pipe on a handrail or wall.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Alden
"If you just kick, the halfling would go flying over the rail" Alden thinks to himself.
"No no that is not who you are." he mentally chastises himself.
Grin pulls Thalion aside. "When we hit de grownd, you get yu'self ta one priesthood. Ya got some bad juju from da Granny"
This trip to Valance continues along, and its remarkably relaxing once you get used to the thinness of the air -- as you move further southward, you begin to see the resort city of Larouche and the blue Sapphire Seas appear beyond the skyscrapers of Valance. It reminds you how beautiful the kingdom is, how utterly unbelievable it could be that some corruption is working behind the scenes to twist the kingdom is some unfortunate direction. And yet...your past dealings, especially in the mine have shown you there is...something there.
Aleksei spends the entire voyage locked in the captain's quarters -- working, he says, on the precise materials he needs to cure King Brocc. As for the rest of you, just as you get comfortable in the journey, you hear Chief Petty Officer Brightaxe's voice come over the ship's internal communication system, so you hear it in every room.
“Ah, sirs, and miss of course. We're pretty close to Valance and I just received a message from the central command. We are to redirect to the, uh... Valance Gaol in the Parapets. They, um… ‘ave their guns trained on us, so uh I’m going to put us down there. You may want to um… brace yourselves.”
The airship sputters as the dwarf eases the craft onto a large landing pad on the roof of the prison. As you get closer, any of you who remain by the windows see a pretty decently sized crowd gathered on the roof, waiting for the airship, including a few figures in the uniform of the city watch.
Aleksei bursts out of the captain's quarters to watch the descent, his face betraying some degree of concern. He whispers a prayer and begins unpacking his things from his racksack, laying them down on the floor of the navigation chamber.
You feel like you’ve been shoved very hard as the craft comes to rest. Brightaxe's voice comes over the internal communication system again, this time with a note of wariness. “ We're 'ere, sirs and miss. I reckon this welcoming party ain't 'ere for me, so if you'd kindly 'ead on out afore me, I'd much appreciate it."
Alden
A bit confused by all this Alden will gather his gear and head off the ship to the "dock" (I take it?) and see what all the commotion is about.
Alden will tell Aleksei before departing: "It might be best if you stay out of sight for the moment. Not sure what is going on but i am not getting a good feeling about all this."
Thalion just shrugs when Grin advised him and remains quiet and withdrawn the rest of the voyage until they land.
He leans over to Grin and murmurs, "Do you think they have priests in prison?"
Yoric slips the pipe in his belt and heads on out with the rest. “I thought Nevlav sent word ahead. Nevlav, aren’t you... you know. ‘The Man’? Don’t you have pull in this sort of thing?”
Paladin - warforged - orange
"Day 'ave priests... U else gonna give de last right oui?" Grin walks out to meet the welcoming party. Hands high in full display.
She clears her throat. "We come here on behest of the king and crown and it is imperative that we are not delayed with trifles."
As Grin and Alden step out onto the dock of Valance Gaol, you notice that the city guardsman who are waiting for you are all wearing protective masks. They are led by an inspector whose build makes him undeniably recognizable as a Goliath -- albeit one smaller than normal. Alden, you are able to recognize him (check your PMs shortly).
As soon as you step onto the gangplank, he raises his hand to stop you from coming closer. "Halt! By the order of the Committee of Public Safety all individuals who had contact with the infected Admiral Tevis Garrock are to surrender themselves to quarantine until such time they are proven to be free from infection."
The Goliath cocks his head at Grin's forceful manner and her clear diction as she speaks, seemingly less certain of himself. "Uh... be that as it may, Ma'am, I have me orders. You are to surrender the traitor Artur Felix to the guard here and I am escort you all to the quarantine quarters below." You can see him mentally reciting all the formal notes he was supposed to hit. "Oh! The Crown thanks you for your service and you will still receive your reward and audience with Prince Neskor, provided you do not fall ill during quarantine."
He steps a step closer, still a safe distance away and he adds "Hullo, Lostchild, fancy seeing you here, eh?"
Alden
Stepping off Alden will take in his surroundings.
1) Is there an escape route if need be?
2) How many guards stand on this dock?
3) what are they armed with?
Alden walks from the ship to the dock directly to where Stairclimber is standing, ignoring anything they say, talking while he does this. He does this as an experiment to see how the inspector and guard will react.
Ignoring the obvious barb, Alden will ask: "That's funny Stairclimber. This small band has captured the greatest villain to the kingdom. We've been away, at Admiral Garrock's request inspecting the mine at Yellow Creek." Alden pauses.
"And the only thing we brought back was "A DOG", Alden says a bit too loudly, "that the old halfling has become too attached to." hoping the druid hears that part.
(man I didn't choose deception as one of my skills to have.....but here goes nothing)
Deception: 12
"What's all this then Stairclimber?" Alden will say looking up into the masked Goliath's face. "We're on a mission at the request of the Admiral. Your authority doesn't exceed his. Sick or not, his orders are orders and those are orders from the Crown itself."
Alden will use intimidation on the Goliath. Not as much to try and spook his as to cause him to slip up a bit and reveal something he shouldn't.
Intimidate: 20
(Alden -- roll a perception check to see what you can pick up in your immediate surroundings; Grin, you can join in on this roll too.)
DM Screen
20
The Goliath laughs hard at Alden's obvious lie. "See, that's your problem, mate. You always thought you were so much smarter than everyone else on the watch. I know all about your mission. Probably more than you do, in fact!"
Alden, you can't tell particularly if you attempt to intimidate the Goliath unnerved him or merely annoyed him, but either way, he responds petulantly to you. "And the Admiral has been relieved of his authority, for now. The old boy's a shadow of himself, hallucinations, seeing conspiracies everywhere. Poor sod. Not likely long for this world, unless something miraculous occurs. Its taking all our best healers to keep King Brocc from slipping even further. Don't worry, if you're not infected, you'll get your reward, if that's what you're worried about. Not every day someone reels in the son of the infamous Aleksander Felix. That's how the Committee knew the old boy was crazy. The traitor Artur Felix as the saviour of the Realm?" He whistles through the mask. "I reckon there's enough glory for both us. Commissioner Capet of the Committee assured me of that!"