“I am so greatful that you’ve agreed to this venture - I’m sure it will prove most profitable in uncovering what happened in the Mournland, and the lost knowledge buried there”
The Cartographer, your patron, is a symbiotic docent-warforged construct, a relic and victim of the Last War. It’s body is pristine polished brass, precisely machined joints and pistons wrapped with greenwood sinew, wearing the ornate purple and white chapter robes of a senior librarian of Morgrave University, fingernails replaced with delicate pen nibs and calliper points. Its head has been blasted in half. It’s a mess of shattered metal, stone and wood splinters all stained dark from the necromantic energies which nearly ended it’s existence, among which the docent floats. It’s voice, emanating from the torn remains of the warforged’s jaw, is tinny and distant.
“As discussed, you’re looking for a secret House Canaith Labratory some two hundred miles east of Eston. There was a hidden vault deep beneath the main buildings - which, intelligence tells me, has not yet been breached. In the vault, you should find many valuable items, of which the most important is a suit of plate armour, powered by dragonshards. When I last saw it, it could fly, shoot beams of elemental fire, allow its wearer to breathe any air, and even bring them back from the brink of death - who only knows what else they were able to add!”
“I believe you’re now fully kitted out - you have my latest maps, such as they are, and all your normal trinkets and tools. As always, I expect you to document your exploration thoroughly so that I may use your notes for my own mapmaking. However, I understand from previous ventures that navigation though the fog is particularly difficult, so you may need to take extra care. Any last questions? Have you determined how you’ll be reaching Vathirond? Road, rail, airship? Or will you be making your own way?”
Ambre leans back in her chair and drums her fingers on the sides as she thinks about the consequences of what could happen if she didnt bring it back to the House. "What are we to do with the plate armor if we locate it?"
“Why, bring it back here, of course! I shan’t be violently offended if one of you were to use it in service of the endeavour of returning to me, but make copious notes and don’t damage it, please.” The wreckage of the head nods toward you over the green leather expanse of The Cartographer’s desk, which is piled high with books, scrolls, paper and trinkets and lit with the midday sun beaming through stained-glass windows. Several homunculi skitter across the room on unknowable errands, while The Cartographer’s pet almiraj nibbles from a platter of carrots.
Leaning forward, they add “We’ll use all the capabilities of the University to understand it’s enchantments and democratise them - the way I recall it built on warforged technologies could be revolutionary for my people, let alone you flesh-and-blood types who could benefit from our design.”
Ambre rubs the side of her neck where her dragonmark was while thinking about the consequences of what coulf happen. "I doubt the university could understand more about it than the House Cannaith. Why not ask them for assistance?"
Zilpip stands straight as a board, his long, thin hands overlapped in a strange X across his crotch. Yuiprt stands in the exact same position, but just inside the room against the wall by the door. The blue-skinned artificer blinks as he quickly scans the faces of his compatriots around him he can see. "We have yet to reach a consensus on the subject of travel," he says in his tinny voice. "There are arguments both logical and emotional. My suspicion is we have fewer funds than necessary to afford an airship, so it seems logical to me that we rent two coaches."
"Why not just wear the thing and see what it does? Especially if we have leave to do so already..." Nasaar speaks up with a shrug. "Why worry about what to do with it when we don't even got the thing?" He adds on. "Let's get moving, daylight's burning..." He would push up from his chair, ready to be moving. "I was thinking we could either get horses ourselves, or do a wagon or two. What do the rest of you think?"
"The last time someone tried to 'see what it does' we wound up with our current name. And coaches do seem the best, so long as we have the funds for them," Ambre replies, chuckling her herself about the pervious events with the badger.
"Seems like the badger thing worked out regardless..." Nasaar shoots back with a grin. "Didn't you get that thing back to your house and get it all fixed up?"
"Well, I remember that there were a few other expeditions launched into the Mournlands - perhaps House Cannaith funded a few of them. Still, at this point most, except for our dear patron and other historians, seem rather set on just moving on."
It is Jon who speaks, a recent addition to Clockwork Badger, hired through the University as a guide for the expedition. Realizing his faux-pas, and being generally quite slow to speak and narrow of attention span, Jon feels in his heavy pack and locates what little money he has.
"I'm sorry, I don't have much, but I'd be glad to put it towards our travel expenses - I confess I mostly walk when I travel, though I'm sure horses and carriages would be nice too."
Listening intently to the conversation, Griff responds to no one in particular, his gruff yet soft voice cutting unusually through the conversation,
"I have no issues traveling by horse and I would be glad of the quiet of the open road after too many nights in the city. However..." he turns to face The Cartographer, "Are there any type of time constraints on this expedition? Are others also in search of this boon, and would we be better to expedite travel to perhaps get ahead of any competition?"
"I have no problem with either mode of travel, and I have some funds left from our last job, but I think horses and a coach might be the best bet, probably the only one we might be able to take into the mournlands itself and a coach would be hand crating this, any any other goodies back out." This from Calrych, the tall lean figure pacing around the room as the others talk, very much like an animal in a cage. His voice will trail off as he finishes, distracted by one of the trinkets on the Cartographers desk. Unless one of his companions stops him, which they would know its coming, he will pick it up and start fiddling with it, trying to figure out what it is.
"Sounds like good reasoning..." Nasaar's soft voice would say as he pats Calrych on the back. "Probably best put that thing back, so we can go and see about finding some coaches and horses..." He nods to the item Calrych picked up from the table.
Calrych will sigh reluctantly and replace the item somewhat near where he found it, "Ok, lets go." And start heading towards the door, before stopping and turning to Nasaar, "Do we have enough coin?"
"I am happy to ride Andor for the journey, acting as a scout for the group. Without knowing exactly what we're walking into, would it be prudent to purchase a diamond? This will allow me to bring someone back from the very edge of death, should the worst occur. I am happy to put all of my resources to such a purchase, but would still require an additional 100g."
OOC: The group would know Andor is Griff's summoned warhorse. 300g diamond would be needed to cast revivify.
"If you will ride scout yourself, I can contribute 100 gold to transport, but I suspect some of group may not have much left from the last job, so we may have to wait on the diamond, unfortunately."
"I have a little extra gold to give as well though I am not exactly flush with cash." Koda then turns to their patron. "I haven't set foot in my homeland since the Mourning. Do you know what we can expect going in? I've heard the tales..." Koda trails off.
"Unfortunately," Ambre looks to Nasaar, "it's still sitting in my room. It's starting to come together, but thanks to a certain someone who I wont name who decided to take a blunt force object to the thing I'm having to repair and remake various components. It's going to take a bit longer before it's back in action. As for transportation, I'll pay up my share for whatever coach we decide to take." Ambre stands up and stretches, her own homonculus, a tiny clockwork bird named Tippy hopping off the table and landing on her shoulder. "Though I do believe that we need to asses everyone's current funds to decide who should pay what, to ensure that no one winds up broke"
“While there’s no specific deadline, nor any competition I’m currently aware of,” The Cartographer says to Griff “And while I have taken care not to spread the news too far, I would hardly be surprised if other parties were also scrambling for leads. To the best of my knowledge, House Cannith is not in a position to fund an additional expedition this financial quarter, not with everything else tying up House resources. Rekkenmark Military Academy might try their hand, though they’ve been reticent lately. The Wayfinder Foundation would value both the technology and the prestige of finding it, and of course, there have been reports of both the Lords of Dust and the Daelkyr are active within the Mournlands”
Steepling their fingers, The Cartographer pauses before adding “I suspect that indecent haste would draw notice - as you’ve not made a habit of chartering airships or taking the Lightning Rail, that could draw comment. Which kind of coach or on horseback is then up to you and your resources. You’ll be on foot once you enter the Mourning, either way”
”Now, is there anything else I can aid you with? I have another appointment shortly - a young Argonnessen sailor claims to have come into possession of an agricultural survey of ancient Bazek Mohl - can you imagine! What a treat!”
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“I am so greatful that you’ve agreed to this venture - I’m sure it will prove most profitable in uncovering what happened in the Mournland, and the lost knowledge buried there”
The Cartographer, your patron, is a symbiotic docent-warforged construct, a relic and victim of the Last War. It’s body is pristine polished brass, precisely machined joints and pistons wrapped with greenwood sinew, wearing the ornate purple and white chapter robes of a senior librarian of Morgrave University, fingernails replaced with delicate pen nibs and calliper points. Its head has been blasted in half. It’s a mess of shattered metal, stone and wood splinters all stained dark from the necromantic energies which nearly ended it’s existence, among which the docent floats. It’s voice, emanating from the torn remains of the warforged’s jaw, is tinny and distant.
“As discussed, you’re looking for a secret House Canaith Labratory some two hundred miles east of Eston. There was a hidden vault deep beneath the main buildings - which, intelligence tells me, has not yet been breached. In the vault, you should find many valuable items, of which the most important is a suit of plate armour, powered by dragonshards. When I last saw it, it could fly, shoot beams of elemental fire, allow its wearer to breathe any air, and even bring them back from the brink of death - who only knows what else they were able to add!”
“I believe you’re now fully kitted out - you have my latest maps, such as they are, and all your normal trinkets and tools. As always, I expect you to document your exploration thoroughly so that I may use your notes for my own mapmaking. However, I understand from previous ventures that navigation though the fog is particularly difficult, so you may need to take extra care. Any last questions? Have you determined how you’ll be reaching Vathirond? Road, rail, airship? Or will you be making your own way?”
Ambre leans back in her chair and drums her fingers on the sides as she thinks about the consequences of what could happen if she didnt bring it back to the House. "What are we to do with the plate armor if we locate it?"
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
“Why, bring it back here, of course! I shan’t be violently offended if one of you were to use it in service of the endeavour of returning to me, but make copious notes and don’t damage it, please.” The wreckage of the head nods toward you over the green leather expanse of The Cartographer’s desk, which is piled high with books, scrolls, paper and trinkets and lit with the midday sun beaming through stained-glass windows. Several homunculi skitter across the room on unknowable errands, while The Cartographer’s pet almiraj nibbles from a platter of carrots.
Leaning forward, they add “We’ll use all the capabilities of the University to understand it’s enchantments and democratise them - the way I recall it built on warforged technologies could be revolutionary for my people, let alone you flesh-and-blood types who could benefit from our design.”
Ambre rubs the side of her neck where her dragonmark was while thinking about the consequences of what coulf happen. "I doubt the university could understand more about it than the House Cannaith. Why not ask them for assistance?"
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
Zilpip stands straight as a board, his long, thin hands overlapped in a strange X across his crotch. Yuiprt stands in the exact same position, but just inside the room against the wall by the door. The blue-skinned artificer blinks as he quickly scans the faces of his compatriots around him he can see. "We have yet to reach a consensus on the subject of travel," he says in his tinny voice. "There are arguments both logical and emotional. My suspicion is we have fewer funds than necessary to afford an airship, so it seems logical to me that we rent two coaches."
"Why not just wear the thing and see what it does? Especially if we have leave to do so already..." Nasaar speaks up with a shrug. "Why worry about what to do with it when we don't even got the thing?" He adds on. "Let's get moving, daylight's burning..." He would push up from his chair, ready to be moving. "I was thinking we could either get horses ourselves, or do a wagon or two. What do the rest of you think?"
"The last time someone tried to 'see what it does' we wound up with our current name. And coaches do seem the best, so long as we have the funds for them," Ambre replies, chuckling her herself about the pervious events with the badger.
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"Seems like the badger thing worked out regardless..." Nasaar shoots back with a grin. "Didn't you get that thing back to your house and get it all fixed up?"
"Well, I remember that there were a few other expeditions launched into the Mournlands - perhaps House Cannaith funded a few of them. Still, at this point most, except for our dear patron and other historians, seem rather set on just moving on."
It is Jon who speaks, a recent addition to Clockwork Badger, hired through the University as a guide for the expedition. Realizing his faux-pas, and being generally quite slow to speak and narrow of attention span, Jon feels in his heavy pack and locates what little money he has.
"I'm sorry, I don't have much, but I'd be glad to put it towards our travel expenses - I confess I mostly walk when I travel, though I'm sure horses and carriages would be nice too."
Listening intently to the conversation, Griff responds to no one in particular, his gruff yet soft voice cutting unusually through the conversation,
"I have no issues traveling by horse and I would be glad of the quiet of the open road after too many nights in the city. However..." he turns to face The Cartographer, "Are there any type of time constraints on this expedition? Are others also in search of this boon, and would we be better to expedite travel to perhaps get ahead of any competition?"
Ryndar Shadowsbane - Lvl 3 Eldarin Fighter | Kassar - Lvl 2 Lizardfolk Druid (Circle of Stars) | Finnegan (Finn) Taggert - Lvl 1 Human Cleric (Peace Domain) |
Verdan Schmidt - Lvl 2 Half-Elf Bard | Grithik - Lvl 5 Deep Gnome Warlock (Celestial)
"I have no problem with either mode of travel, and I have some funds left from our last job, but I think horses and a coach might be the best bet, probably the only one we might be able to take into the mournlands itself and a coach would be hand crating this, any any other goodies back out." This from Calrych, the tall lean figure pacing around the room as the others talk, very much like an animal in a cage. His voice will trail off as he finishes, distracted by one of the trinkets on the Cartographers desk. Unless one of his companions stops him, which they would know its coming, he will pick it up and start fiddling with it, trying to figure out what it is.
"Sounds like good reasoning..." Nasaar's soft voice would say as he pats Calrych on the back. "Probably best put that thing back, so we can go and see about finding some coaches and horses..." He nods to the item Calrych picked up from the table.
Calrych will sigh reluctantly and replace the item somewhat near where he found it, "Ok, lets go." And start heading towards the door, before stopping and turning to Nasaar, "Do we have enough coin?"
"I can give some to the cause." Nasaar says with a glance around. "Who else is able to anti up some funds for travel expenses?"
"I can cover quite a bit, but not all of it, anything else we need for the trip while we're shopping?"
(ooc, we're assuming a single coach will carry us all? Also, do we want maybe one or two extra horses for people to scout ahead on?)
"I am happy to ride Andor for the journey, acting as a scout for the group. Without knowing exactly what we're walking into, would it be prudent to purchase a diamond? This will allow me to bring someone back from the very edge of death, should the worst occur. I am happy to put all of my resources to such a purchase, but would still require an additional 100g."
OOC: The group would know Andor is Griff's summoned warhorse. 300g diamond would be needed to cast revivify.
Ryndar Shadowsbane - Lvl 3 Eldarin Fighter | Kassar - Lvl 2 Lizardfolk Druid (Circle of Stars) | Finnegan (Finn) Taggert - Lvl 1 Human Cleric (Peace Domain) |
Verdan Schmidt - Lvl 2 Half-Elf Bard | Grithik - Lvl 5 Deep Gnome Warlock (Celestial)
"If you will ride scout yourself, I can contribute 100 gold to transport, but I suspect some of group may not have much left from the last job, so we may have to wait on the diamond, unfortunately."
"I have a little extra gold to give as well though I am not exactly flush with cash." Koda then turns to their patron. "I haven't set foot in my homeland since the Mourning. Do you know what we can expect going in? I've heard the tales..." Koda trails off.
Koda Kalashtar Samurai Eberron - The lost Laboratories
"Unfortunately," Ambre looks to Nasaar, "it's still sitting in my room. It's starting to come together, but thanks to a certain someone who I wont name who decided to take a blunt force object to the thing I'm having to repair and remake various components. It's going to take a bit longer before it's back in action. As for transportation, I'll pay up my share for whatever coach we decide to take." Ambre stands up and stretches, her own homonculus, a tiny clockwork bird named Tippy hopping off the table and landing on her shoulder. "Though I do believe that we need to asses everyone's current funds to decide who should pay what, to ensure that no one winds up broke"
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
“While there’s no specific deadline, nor any competition I’m currently aware of,” The Cartographer says to Griff “And while I have taken care not to spread the news too far, I would hardly be surprised if other parties were also scrambling for leads. To the best of my knowledge, House Cannith is not in a position to fund an additional expedition this financial quarter, not with everything else tying up House resources. Rekkenmark Military Academy might try their hand, though they’ve been reticent lately. The Wayfinder Foundation would value both the technology and the prestige of finding it, and of course, there have been reports of both the Lords of Dust and the Daelkyr are active within the Mournlands”
Steepling their fingers, The Cartographer pauses before adding “I suspect that indecent haste would draw notice - as you’ve not made a habit of chartering airships or taking the Lightning Rail, that could draw comment. Which kind of coach or on horseback is then up to you and your resources. You’ll be on foot once you enter the Mourning, either way”
”Now, is there anything else I can aid you with? I have another appointment shortly - a young Argonnessen sailor claims to have come into possession of an agricultural survey of ancient Bazek Mohl - can you imagine! What a treat!”