In the small seaside village of Stokkr there's something stalking the village. A nightly terror that has robbed it of it's livestock but now more boldly, its first resident. This a village of whalers, boatwrights, and farmers but not warriors. News of the threat however has reached the larger port city of Hagar where you were recruited by two villagers. Teens Brida and Baltus Gunnulf find you in the cheap tavern on the wrong side of Hagar, with little experience of the world outside their seaside village, they hire you after a brief interview and the promise of all the wealth of the village of Stokkr to stop the threat.
The party
Ursal Bristleback Lvl 3 Human Blood Hunter
Krayne Valis Lvl 3 Aasimar Oath of Vengeance Paladin of Deva, Bahalis
Rasmus Lvl 3 Tiefling Cleric of Mask
Viktor Lvl 3 Tiefling Warlock Pact of the Tome
Our story begins...
Entering the Silver Sails on a blustery spring night from your home in Hagar or your travels beyond Hagar. You settle at the bar only to be approached moments later and tempted with a free ale to listen to the plight of two very young human teens who introduce themselves as Brida and Baltus Gunnulf. Your interest is perked by them, for reasons of your own, and you follow them to a table. There you find some adventurers already sitting as of awaiting your arrival. After all the party are together the teens then launch into their tale of woe: As shepherds of the largest flocks of sheep in Stokkr their farm and neighbors were recently beset by a beast(s). Some monster(s) came in the night picking off their most prized of the flock as well as their neighbors. The beast(s) slayed their hounds trained to defend the sheep. The Gunnulf's however have suffered the greatest loss. Their father whose body has yet to be recovered! The Gunnulf's sent by the other shepherds, sixteen families in all, have come to find aid in Hagar after their own village lawbringer failed to find the beast and end it's reign of terror. The Gunnulf's have been to three other pubs that night before coming to the docks and the Silver Sails. They explain how no one will take them seriously until they found you. They hope you will be more understanding than the others who ran them out of their establishments unaided. The twins are not small or malnourished. In fact their clothing suggests to you some wealth but what the wear is well-worn. The Gunnulf's have human Norse-like features, blonde with pale skinned and blue eyes, much like the other human folk of Hagar. In fact Hagar is primarily composed of both hill and mountain dwarves as well as half-orcs. These groups make up the bulk of the population besides humans in this port city.
Viktor accepts the free ale, casting a quick spell upon it. a fine film of condensation begins to form on the cup.
"Please tell me your plight"
Viktor follows the teen's as they lead him back to their table and listens as they give a brief overview of their troubles.
Viktor is a red skinned, black eyed tiefling, with a hood covering his head, but not hiding his prominent horns. as he takes a seat at the table, a spider crawls out of his cloak and crawls onto his shoulders.
Krayne comes to the table, nods at the Gunnulfs, and gives a long look at the tiefling - reversing the chair he sits, and nods to the server whilst pointing at the ale in front of Viktor.
"Please do continue, we would certainly like all the information you have before deciding how we proceed."
He asks politely enough but the rough edge to his voice steals any kindness that may have been intended. The large shield across his back adds to his imposing nature, and the helmet shrouds his face in shadow, although the little that is visible seems to be flickering almost like a light is playing under his skin. His chainmail looks well used and has been coloured black, the only adornments are several white strips of cloth tied around his biceps and wrists, another strip is tied around the crossguard of a well worn longsword hilt.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
"Yer shepherds, then." If it was meant as a question - delivered with a guttural growl in a gravelly rough voice - Ursal didn't wait for a response.
He swipes the tankard of free ale that the ale wench was bringing for Krayne, drains it with three large gulps, and plops the tankard back on her serving tray.
"Bring two more, one for him, another for me." He tosses a silver on her tray.
"Yer shepherds, then," Ursal repeats, regarding the twins, still standing.
"I have an idea what's killing the livestock and what's happened to yer pa. It's what brings me here. It's what I hunt." He pauses, as the ale wench serves two more ales. He again gulps his down in seconds.
"It's what happened to me own pa. I'll help ya find out what happened."
As abruptly as he started the conversation, Ursal ends it with a low growl as he slaps a blackened length of stick, a javelin, crackling with energy, on the table. He hefts his greataxe in between Krayne's chair and one he has dragged over from another table. He sits, now silent, and he regards the others at the table. It's obvious he doesn't need to hear any other details. He's prepared to go and waiting for the twins to finish their story is just a formality.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Originally from Atlanta, GA. Now in Philadelphia, PA. Gaming since 1970s.
Rasmus, in a calm manner, takes his seat very quietly among the others. He rejects the offered ale, but does listen to the teens' plight with interest. He ponders for a moment after Ursal abruptly accepts their request himself, before speaking up in a very gentle, yet hollow voice.
"I'm wary to the grief the two of you have suffered. I would me more than willing to aid you."
He gives them a grin and crosses his arms confidently.
The Gunnulf's seem anxious after introductions to get on the road back to Stokkr. They explain then brought a wagon and that everyone may ride in it. The trip back along the coast will take two days but that the party should reach Stokkr by late afternoon on the second day. They ask if there are any questions or concerns before moving forward.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
"Has anything similar ever happened in the village, even back in time, do any of your old ones remember anything like it?
Krayne leans in to the brother and sister, smiling grimly.
"You may be thinking you are inviting wolves to your door but you will see that you need a certain kind of person to do certain things, but I must be clear about one thing with you. What I do, I do to stop evil, if you have a problem with wolves you can fix it yourselves - they have a right to live too, I only kill things that know what they are doing is wrong. But I only speak for myself."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Viktor regards each of the individuals at the table, smiling at Ursal's demeanor, and nodding at Krayne's words.
"Sounds like my line of work, I'm in. But like our large armoured friend here, I'm only in it to kill monsters. If it turns out to be animals just trying to survive, you're better off finding a regular hunter."
Viktor appears ready to get moving when everyone else is done.
"Has anything similar ever happened in the village, even back in time, do any of your old ones remember anything like it?
Krayne leans in to the brother and sister, smiling grimly.
"You may be thinking you are inviting wolves to your door but you will see that you need a certain kind of person to do certain things, but I must be clear about one thing with you. What I do, I do to stop evil, if you have a problem with wolves you can fix it yourselves - they have a right to live too, I only kill things that know what they are doing is wrong. But I only speak for myself."
Ursal grunts his agreement with these sentiments and nods to confirm that he is of the same mind as Krayne.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Originally from Atlanta, GA. Now in Philadelphia, PA. Gaming since 1970s.
"Do you think we would have travelled all this way because of a problem with wolves," Brida begins her tone astonished as Baltus begins to stand up from the table. This distress seems to make Brida even more upset. "Maybe we were mistaken in coming here," she the says with a heavy sigh looking to her twin brother.
"Wolves," Baltus exclaims the teenage boy glaring at Krayne. "It's a monster," he begins again, "if you would...if you would have seen what it did to our father....you would know the difference," he exclaims turning from the table as if to leave.
"No, Baltus," Brida exclaims stopping her brother, "we need them," she adds in a small voice looking back at the table at the party. "It's evil," she then offers. "The old cleric in our village already said as much but he never returned from his temple here in Hagar with help," she explains next. "We're not even sure he ever got farther than the outskirts of the village," she then says almost in a shaky whisper. "This has never happened before on this scale. Wolves we can deal with," she then answers Krayne, Ursal, and Viktor's commens.
Brida then looks to Rasmus who's remain silent during the exchange.
"Will you come," Brida asks the albino tiefling in a soft, worries tone.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
A concerned look flashes over Viktor's face and in a calm voice he says
"Hey now, its ok, we will come, we will help you. I don't believe any of us meant to question your capabilities in telling the difference between a wolf or something other. its just that, certainly in my travels, i often find people have exaggerated the details for these kinds of situations.
With a slightly wicked grin, Viktor continues
"Let us be on our way, we have a monster to slay!"
"If it is as you say then you have my service until the beast is slain, my oath given solemnly that I will not turn aside from this path until the people of your village are safe and vengeance for your father has been taken."
The paladin sits back in his chair the light emanating from inside his helm is slightly brighter, more clearly a golden glow than before.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
"Then let's waste no more time with doubts," Brida stands with Baltus moving towards the exit at the front of the tavern towards where they paid a livery to watch over their horses and wagon.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
"And you have my axe," Ursal announces, snatching up his weapon and watching everyone head for the door. Before he leaves, though, Ursal steps back to the table and downs the ale that Rasmus refused.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Originally from Atlanta, GA. Now in Philadelphia, PA. Gaming since 1970s.
The Gunnulf's lead the way. The livery and stables with an adjacent blacksmith is busy even at dusk. The Gunnulf's inform you that they have a camp just outside the city, it's a little rustic but it's free.
Following them to the livery and stables you stand back as they approach a half-orc who's wearing a heavy leather apron. At first it seems a normal transaction but then you see the half-orc chuckle then shake his head before Baltus, with a suspiciously obvious coin purse, gets out coin to hand over. The half-orc nods this time and with a wave of his large gray hand, a dwarf drives out a wagon hitched to two bay horses.
Bringing the horses back to the group the teens seem upset but they say nothing.
In the small seaside village of Stokkr there's something stalking the village. A nightly terror that has robbed it of it's livestock but now more boldly, its first resident. This a village of whalers, boatwrights, and farmers but not warriors. News of the threat however has reached the larger port city of Hagar where you were recruited by two villagers. Teens Brida and Baltus Gunnulf find you in the cheap tavern on the wrong side of Hagar, with little experience of the world outside their seaside village, they hire you after a brief interview and the promise of all the wealth of the village of Stokkr to stop the threat.
The party
Ursal Bristleback Lvl 3 Human Blood Hunter
Krayne Valis Lvl 3 Aasimar Oath of Vengeance Paladin of Deva, Bahalis
Rasmus Lvl 3 Tiefling Cleric of Mask
Viktor Lvl 3 Tiefling Warlock Pact of the Tome
Our story begins...
Entering the Silver Sails on a blustery spring night from your home in Hagar or your travels beyond Hagar. You settle at the bar only to be approached moments later and tempted with a free ale to listen to the plight of two very young human teens who introduce themselves as Brida and Baltus Gunnulf. Your interest is perked by them, for reasons of your own, and you follow them to a table. There you find some adventurers already sitting as of awaiting your arrival. After all the party are together the teens then launch into their tale of woe: As shepherds of the largest flocks of sheep in Stokkr their farm and neighbors were recently beset by a beast(s). Some monster(s) came in the night picking off their most prized of the flock as well as their neighbors. The beast(s) slayed their hounds trained to defend the sheep. The Gunnulf's however have suffered the greatest loss. Their father whose body has yet to be recovered! The Gunnulf's sent by the other shepherds, sixteen families in all, have come to find aid in Hagar after their own village lawbringer failed to find the beast and end it's reign of terror. The Gunnulf's have been to three other pubs that night before coming to the docks and the Silver Sails. They explain how no one will take them seriously until they found you. They hope you will be more understanding than the others who ran them out of their establishments unaided. The twins are not small or malnourished. In fact their clothing suggests to you some wealth but what the wear is well-worn. The Gunnulf's have human Norse-like features, blonde with pale skinned and blue eyes, much like the other human folk of Hagar. In fact Hagar is primarily composed of both hill and mountain dwarves as well as half-orcs. These groups make up the bulk of the population besides humans in this port city.
Please begin introductions. order is as follows:
Viktor
Krayne
Ursal
Rasmus
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
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Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Viktor accepts the free ale, casting a quick spell upon it. a fine film of condensation begins to form on the cup.
"Please tell me your plight"
Viktor follows the teen's as they lead him back to their table and listens as they give a brief overview of their troubles.
Viktor is a red skinned, black eyed tiefling, with a hood covering his head, but not hiding his prominent horns. as he takes a seat at the table, a spider crawls out of his cloak and crawls onto his shoulders.
Viktor and the spider on his shoulder:
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Krayne comes to the table, nods at the Gunnulfs, and gives a long look at the tiefling - reversing the chair he sits, and nods to the server whilst pointing at the ale in front of Viktor.
"Please do continue, we would certainly like all the information you have before deciding how we proceed."
He asks politely enough but the rough edge to his voice steals any kindness that may have been intended. The large shield across his back adds to his imposing nature, and the helmet shrouds his face in shadow, although the little that is visible seems to be flickering almost like a light is playing under his skin. His chainmail looks well used and has been coloured black, the only adornments are several white strips of cloth tied around his biceps and wrists, another strip is tied around the crossguard of a well worn longsword hilt.
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
"Yer shepherds, then." If it was meant as a question - delivered with a guttural growl in a gravelly rough voice - Ursal didn't wait for a response.
He swipes the tankard of free ale that the ale wench was bringing for Krayne, drains it with three large gulps, and plops the tankard back on her serving tray.
"Bring two more, one for him, another for me." He tosses a silver on her tray.
"Yer shepherds, then," Ursal repeats, regarding the twins, still standing.
"I have an idea what's killing the livestock and what's happened to yer pa. It's what brings me here. It's what I hunt." He pauses, as the ale wench serves two more ales. He again gulps his down in seconds.
"It's what happened to me own pa. I'll help ya find out what happened."
As abruptly as he started the conversation, Ursal ends it with a low growl as he slaps a blackened length of stick, a javelin, crackling with energy, on the table. He hefts his greataxe in between Krayne's chair and one he has dragged over from another table. He sits, now silent, and he regards the others at the table. It's obvious he doesn't need to hear any other details. He's prepared to go and waiting for the twins to finish their story is just a formality.
Originally from Atlanta, GA. Now in Philadelphia, PA. Gaming since 1970s.
Rasmus, in a calm manner, takes his seat very quietly among the others. He rejects the offered ale, but does listen to the teens' plight with interest. He ponders for a moment after Ursal abruptly accepts their request himself, before speaking up in a very gentle, yet hollow voice.
"I'm wary to the grief the two of you have suffered. I would me more than willing to aid you."
He gives them a grin and crosses his arms confidently.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧? 𝐀 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬.
The Gunnulf's seem anxious after introductions to get on the road back to Stokkr. They explain then brought a wagon and that everyone may ride in it. The trip back along the coast will take two days but that the party should reach Stokkr by late afternoon on the second day. They ask if there are any questions or concerns before moving forward.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
OOC: I will use my outlander feature to gather enough food and water during the trip for all. No need to use rations.
Originally from Atlanta, GA. Now in Philadelphia, PA. Gaming since 1970s.
"Has anything similar ever happened in the village, even back in time, do any of your old ones remember anything like it?
Krayne leans in to the brother and sister, smiling grimly.
"You may be thinking you are inviting wolves to your door but you will see that you need a certain kind of person to do certain things, but I must be clear about one thing with you. What I do, I do to stop evil, if you have a problem with wolves you can fix it yourselves - they have a right to live too, I only kill things that know what they are doing is wrong. But I only speak for myself."
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
Viktor regards each of the individuals at the table, smiling at Ursal's demeanor, and nodding at Krayne's words.
"Sounds like my line of work, I'm in. But like our large armoured friend here, I'm only in it to kill monsters. If it turns out to be animals just trying to survive, you're better off finding a regular hunter."
Viktor appears ready to get moving when everyone else is done.
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Originally from Atlanta, GA. Now in Philadelphia, PA. Gaming since 1970s.
"Do you think we would have travelled all this way because of a problem with wolves," Brida begins her tone astonished as Baltus begins to stand up from the table. This distress seems to make Brida even more upset. "Maybe we were mistaken in coming here," she the says with a heavy sigh looking to her twin brother.
"Wolves," Baltus exclaims the teenage boy glaring at Krayne. "It's a monster," he begins again, "if you would...if you would have seen what it did to our father....you would know the difference," he exclaims turning from the table as if to leave.
"No, Baltus," Brida exclaims stopping her brother, "we need them," she adds in a small voice looking back at the table at the party. "It's evil," she then offers. "The old cleric in our village already said as much but he never returned from his temple here in Hagar with help," she explains next. "We're not even sure he ever got farther than the outskirts of the village," she then says almost in a shaky whisper. "This has never happened before on this scale. Wolves we can deal with," she then answers Krayne, Ursal, and Viktor's commens.
Brida then looks to Rasmus who's remain silent during the exchange.
"Will you come," Brida asks the albino tiefling in a soft, worries tone.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
“Of course,” he answered quietly, “I would feel wrong turning you down.”
Rasmus casts a quick glance to each of his tablemates and proceeds, “Besides, you’ll never know the truth unless you find it yourself.”
It wasn't in his nature to turn down someone in need, even if the tale had a hint of a lie in it.
(I roll insight on the Gunnulf teens to see if they really are lying)
4
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧? 𝐀 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬.
A concerned look flashes over Viktor's face and in a calm voice he says
"Hey now, its ok, we will come, we will help you. I don't believe any of us meant to question your capabilities in telling the difference between a wolf or something other. its just that, certainly in my travels, i often find people have exaggerated the details for these kinds of situations.
With a slightly wicked grin, Viktor continues
"Let us be on our way, we have a monster to slay!"
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
"If it is as you say then you have my service until the beast is slain, my oath given solemnly that I will not turn aside from this path until the people of your village are safe and vengeance for your father has been taken."
The paladin sits back in his chair the light emanating from inside his helm is slightly brighter, more clearly a golden glow than before.
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
Rasmus the teens are telling you the truth.
"Then let's waste no more time with doubts," Brida stands with Baltus moving towards the exit at the front of the tavern towards where they paid a livery to watch over their horses and wagon.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Viktor looks around at the others and then follow the two youths out the door.
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
"And you have my axe," Ursal announces, snatching up his weapon and watching everyone head for the door. Before he leaves, though, Ursal steps back to the table and downs the ale that Rasmus refused.
Originally from Atlanta, GA. Now in Philadelphia, PA. Gaming since 1970s.
The Gunnulf's lead the way. The livery and stables with an adjacent blacksmith is busy even at dusk. The Gunnulf's inform you that they have a camp just outside the city, it's a little rustic but it's free.
Following them to the livery and stables you stand back as they approach a half-orc who's wearing a heavy leather apron. At first it seems a normal transaction but then you see the half-orc chuckle then shake his head before Baltus, with a suspiciously obvious coin purse, gets out coin to hand over. The half-orc nods this time and with a wave of his large gray hand, a dwarf drives out a wagon hitched to two bay horses.
Bringing the horses back to the group the teens seem upset but they say nothing.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Insight: 20
Viktor asks the Gunnulf's
"Everything all right?"
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss