Return to Oakhurst
After successfully completing the venture into the sunken citadel, your journey back to Oakhurst is uneventful.
You eventually makes their way back to the General Store, and your arrival brings much delight to Kerowyn Hucrele, its owner and operator. Her delight is short lived once the fate of her children is shared with her, but she is extremely appreciative for the return of her family rings. "One moment," she says, ducking down behind the counter before rising with several sacks; you can tell, from their sound, they're filled with coins. "You've earned these," she says, handing two sacks to each of you, each filled with 125 gold pieces, or 250 gold pieces total.
"I'm sure you've been through a great ordeal, and could use a good night of rest -- Garon, at the Ol Boar Inn, has standing orders to put all of your expenses from his establishment on my tab." she says, smiling.
"I don't know what you plan to do next, but if you're still looking for adventure... "
"I'm afraid my god is calling me elsewhere, so I can no longer continue on,"Hargrem shares, breaking the news to the rest. Kerowyn understands, and is appreciative for his efforts so far. "May Tymora bless your travels," she says.
With that, the cleric bids the group farewell with hearty handshakes and smiles.
"The rest of you -- thank you."Kerowyn says, thanking you for your willingness to aid her once again. "But take a night. Get some rest. Have a bath. Enjoy a feast. Then, come back and I can share with you the details."
"Go," she says, nodding. "Go visit Garon and get set up with rooms, and food, and drinks. And a bath if you'd like. We'll reconvene tomorrow."
---
Just getting things started. Kind of. I still need to get some things organized, and I've also been working on rebuilding the footer information. Please, double-check the information for at least your character to make sure everything is accurate. Gerrin, as noted, I still need to work on your spells.
Bottom line, while things are beyond crazy for me right now, I still haven't forgotten about this game and I'm officially taking steps to actively get this thing launched.
Kelben eats and drinks joins in any games that are going on and then heads to his room to bath soak and sleep.
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred "If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
Algrim Tirion Dwarf - HarnMaser Dalin Silverhand Dwarf Thief - Barrowmaze Elwood 'Dug' The Bounty Hunter Dwarf Swashbuckler - Hedge's Adventures in the World of Golarion Roan Gravelbeard Dwarf Fighter - Hedge's Greyhawk Adventures Torvik Shadowhood Dwarf Fighter/Thief - Nocturne
Sometimes this summer I will most likely be participating in another 24 hour game of Dungeons & Dragons as part of Extra Life. This organization uses gaming to help raise money to donate to children's hospitals. I'm raising money for Marshfield Children's Hospital in Marshfield, WI, and all money I raise will go to that hospital. All donations are tax-deductible. Please take a moment to check out my donation page below. Thank you.
The small, diminutive halfling found himself in the backwater town of Oakhurst. He had traveled far to get here as word of a magic tree producing magic apples caught his little ears. His affinity to nature and the druidic arts pulled him closer and closer to the town. However, he arrived too late.
As he entered the town, he headed straight to the tavern. Rickwrick had journeyed a long way, and was in need of a bit of refreshment. When he opened the door, the darkened interior of the tavern caused some of the patrons to squint his direction. The halfling bathed the place in light as he was a small, silhouetted creature on the door's threshold. He walked in and when everyone saw it was just another small folk, they went about their business of drowning their respective sorrows in the drink.
Rickwrick walked up to the bar and ordered up an ale. Given his stature, he nearly had to stand on the barstool to be seen by the bartender, which was almost comical. Receiving his drink, he sat there and listened. Various tables were full of locals talking about the return of law and order to the town. He overheard talk of goblins and some strange druid. And then he saw a ragtag group of people talking with a particularly elegant looking woman. Putting the pieces of the puzzle together, he knew these people to be the ones that had destroyed the magic tree and rid the outlying areas of any threats.
One by one, the adventurers went about their business after speaking to the lady. He overheard the woman asking them to return in the morning for more work. He made a note that he would do just that. The gnome disappeared to his room for the night. The gnarled looking man bid his farewell and made his way out the door. The dragonborn stuck around for a little while enjoying a well earned meal. To be honest, the halfling had no interest in approaching the mean looking sorcerer. Instead, he saw the tabaxi which gave him the opening.
Turning to the bartender, he ordered up another drink for his 'friend.' Then, he called over to Sky and motioned for him to join him. There, Rickwrick would find out the details of the venture into the Sunless Citadel and the trials they had experienced.
Sky is drinks deep into her telling the tale of the sunless citadel when she gets a drink from a newcomer. Eager to regale another from the beginning, she pounces on the opportunity.
"Ah. A patron of the arts, are you? Excellent, excellent. I am called Sky and my companions..." She looks around for the others, doesn't find them, and shrugs "...are not as interesting as I."
"What can I do for you, Mr.?" You notice that she is a bit larger than the halfling and not entirely able to hide her predatory gaze from the smaller, tasty looking patron.
Next Offer Kerowyn Hucrele sequesters everyone into the back room of her 'General Store' and instructs her staff that she is not to be disrupted. Once in relative privacy, she looks to each of you, lingering a bit longer once her gaze reaches Ricwrick, the newcomer, but continues on. "I'm glad you're here, and that you've agreed to take on this next mission I can use you on," she starts. "I have a sister -- Sister Alonsa -- so, a sister, sister," she jokes. "She heads up a small temple in the town of Blasingdell, just over a day's travel from here on foot."
"Anyway, I received message just last week about how an unconscious man -- a stranger -- was discovered near a rocky hill called the Stone Tooth and brought to her for her attention. They found this --" she says, producing a small section of the shaft of a broken blade bearing a mark of a kneeling knight with sword and shield:
Durgeddin's Touchmark.jpg (11.75 KiB) Viewed 2674 times
"That mark, we're almost certain, is the work of Durgeddin --" When the mention of the name doesn't seem to register with anyone in the group, she elaborates. "Durgeddin was a master smith who forged blades of surpassing quality and power. Centuries ago, when his home was sacked by orcs, Durgeddin led the remnants of his clan to the mountains north of Blasingdell, where he established a small, secret stronghold somewhere in the trackless wilderness."
From his hidden redoubt, he waged a decades-long vendetta against all orc-kind, until his enemies discovered his fortress and attacked it after a long siege. Durgeddin and his followers perished, and much wealth was carried away by the conquering hordes. But it’s said that the deepest and best-hidden vaults and armories escaped the looting, and that some of Durgeddin’s extraordinary blades still wait in the darkness for a hand bold enough to claim one."
"That is where I'm hoping you will come in. You will be richly rewarded for each of Durgeddin’s blades you're able to recover. More for detailed information about the dwarven complex, and a map."
"Can I count on your services again?"
---
Alright, the game will probably start slowly, but let's get moving again.
Looking at the others, the dragonborn replies first. I cannot speak for anyone else, but this mystery is something I might be willing to explore on my own. Obviously, any others that choose to undertake this expedition will greatly improve our chances of success. What can you tell us of the area? You said the dwarves were overrun by orcs. Are there numbers of orcs, or other threats, known to populate the area?
Sometimes this summer I will most likely be participating in another 24 hour game of Dungeons & Dragons as part of Extra Life. This organization uses gaming to help raise money to donate to children's hospitals. I'm raising money for Marshfield Children's Hospital in Marshfield, WI, and all money I raise will go to that hospital. All donations are tax-deductible. Please take a moment to check out my donation page below. Thank you.
Kelben nods "I'll take on the mission." the gnome says using his fingers in the air to do air quotes when he says mission. "Sounds like a challenge and could potentially have some great rewards." again air quoting on rewards with a sly wink at the end. "At any rate I'm in are there any further details you might provide to us?" at this time he lowers his hands and no longer does any more air quotes.
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred "If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
Algrim Tirion Dwarf - HarnMaser Dalin Silverhand Dwarf Thief - Barrowmaze Elwood 'Dug' The Bounty Hunter Dwarf Swashbuckler - Hedge's Adventures in the World of Golarion Roan Gravelbeard Dwarf Fighter - Hedge's Greyhawk Adventures Torvik Shadowhood Dwarf Fighter/Thief - Nocturne
Sky paces around the back room, not entirely comfortable in the smaller space. "So...we're looking for a hidden vault inside a hidden fortress that may hold some shiny weapons?" She stops and smiles at the Lady. "I do like finding things. And hidden things are even more fun to find. I'm in."
She flicks her tail around and asks a complex question. "What are you planning to do with the weapons we retrieve?" She then laughs and waves it away. "I'm kidding! I don't really care."
The halfling enjoyed his time with the tabaxi. So much so, that he agreed to tag along the next morning. It seemed Sky was a 'sharer' and well, if there was new adventure to be had, Rickwrick was up to the case. He met the others along the road and introduced himself and his unique set of talents. He was a bit sad that he was too late to help out with the tree and its magic apples. However, he understood that when one door closes, another usually opens.
When the walked in, he introduced himself to Lady Hucrele. She shared a story of orcs and forges and gold (most likely). Rickwrick was a brave halfling, to say the least, so he agreed to join the others on this little adventure. Of course, I'll go, he replied to Sky. Shan't take too long, I 'm thinking. We'll be back in time for dinner, for that I'm sure.
Kelben chimes in "Which dinner first or second?" he smiles "Or am I mistaken? I met two young halflings that were like that ate more than one of each meal."
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred "If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
Algrim Tirion Dwarf - HarnMaser Dalin Silverhand Dwarf Thief - Barrowmaze Elwood 'Dug' The Bounty Hunter Dwarf Swashbuckler - Hedge's Adventures in the World of Golarion Roan Gravelbeard Dwarf Fighter - Hedge's Greyhawk Adventures Torvik Shadowhood Dwarf Fighter/Thief - Nocturne
Both! Rickwrick says with a smile. I do enjoy a good second dinner, though. Right! So, let's get going, yeah? The halfling asked Lady Hucrele about where the unconscious man was found. That's a good a place as any to start, I'd say
Leaving Oakhurst
Thankful that everyone has agreed to take on her next endeavor, Kerowyn Hucrele excuses herself for a moment, allowing the group an opportunity to discuss the latest agreement they entered.
Their goal -- to recover as many of Durgeddin’s blades as possible -- seems simple enough. And to provide detailed information about the dwarven complex, and a map if possible.
This brief interlude is interrupted when Kerowyn's re-emerges. The shop owner places a few containers into the center of the table the group is comfortably seated around. The first, a small wooden box with a hinged lid, is roughly the size of a small breadbox and is wrapped in leather dyed a deep emerald green. As she flips the lid open, the contents are revealed to consist of eight small glass vials containing a familiar red liquid which glimmer when agitated. "Draughts of healing, as I'm sure you're familiar," she says. "I figured a pair for each of you, but feel free to distribute as you see fit."
Then, this --" she says, closing the lid on the first box and flipping open the hinged lid of a second, plain wooden box which is longer, but narrower. Inside this second box are four quills, two vials of ink, a stack of folded over sheets of parchment, a pair of compasses, calipers, and a ruler. "These -- " she continues, "These are the tools of a cartographer. They're yours, if your plans involve trying to map out the layout of the dwarven fortress."
Finally, from a leather scroll case, Kerowyn unravels a wound piece of parchment containing a map:
Blasingdell Overview.jpg (129.77 KiB) Viewed 2445 times
"That's Blasingdell," she says, indicating a labeled town in the center of the map. "It's a small town, of maybe 2,000 people; a mixed population, but mostly human-centric. My sister, Sister Alonsa, runs the small temple there. Arrangements have been made for you at the Griffon's Nest, the local inn and tavern run by Sarel Bankdown, a female half-elf. She has long, bright red hair, a piercing in her nose, and a tattoo on her left cheek -- she kind of stands out, so you can't miss her."
"From there, you'll head to a rugged, forested hill crowned by a bare rocky crag known as The Stone Tooth -- " she says, dragging her finger from town to the tallest of the hills located just north of there, past a forest, some hills, and a swamp known as the Dark Mere. "-- beneath it rumored to be a great cavern system where Durgeddin and his followers founded the stronghold of Khundrukar."
"Since none of Durgeddin’s extraordinary blades have been recovered, the deepest and best-hidden vaults and armories of Khundrukar must have escaped the looting."
"What I'm asking will not be easy -- hence the potions of healing -- but you've proven yourselves worth so far, I have every confidence you'll succeed where others have failed."
---
Leaving Oakhurst.
Please determine how the potions of healing will be distributed, and make sure to add them to your respective character sheets!
Also, let me know if anyone accepts the cartographer's kit. If so, please be prepared to actually attempt to create a map. How you do this will be up to you. You can simply draw the map out on paper and upload a picture of it. You can use an online mapping tool like Pyromancers. Up to you.
Blasingdell
Just as Kerowyn claimed, Blasingdell is probably a day journey from Oakhurst -- the trip shortened by the loan of horses which, when you arrive, can be turned into at the Griffon's Nest, where Sarel Bankdown is expecting you.
You arrive late in the night, and are weary, when you reach your destination. The common area of the inn, at this late hour, is vacant except for a female half-elf matching the "can't miss" description of Sarel:
Sarel Bankdown.jpg (30.09 KiB) Viewed 2444 times
"You must be tired,"Sarel says, welcoming you. She is receptive to answer any questions you might have, but immediately upon your arrival calls a pair of porters; the first she sends to take possession of your horses, the second to show you to your rooms.
"Tomorrow's a busy day; get some rest." she urges.
---
I wasn't planning on spending too much time here in Blasingdell (and was tempted to skip it or hand-waive it completely), but wanted to give you guys a chance to decide if you want to role-play at all here before jumping into the real meat of the adventure.
At this point, it's still the night of your arrival. If you want to do anything this night, let me know. If you want to skip to the next morning, let me know.
Apologies for the prolonged delay, but let's (finally) get this game rolling again.
Kelben bows his head thanking Kerowyn "I appreciate the potions you are far too kind to us." the gnome ignores the cartographers tools. "Never been good at drawing maps I'll pass those up to someone perhaps more skilled." he says. Then he proceeds to silently listed to the rest of the details Kerowyn tells them & gives them.
Later at Blasingdell he smiles at the sight of Sarel matching the description perfectly. "Oh my yes tired though the journey wasn't too bad. I could go for a good meal and a comfortable bed thank you." though he fights the urge to ask he eventually does so "Sarel I am curious about your tattoos. What do they mean exactly?" curiosity having gotten the best of him.
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred "If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
Algrim Tirion Dwarf - HarnMaser Dalin Silverhand Dwarf Thief - Barrowmaze Elwood 'Dug' The Bounty Hunter Dwarf Swashbuckler - Hedge's Adventures in the World of Golarion Roan Gravelbeard Dwarf Fighter - Hedge's Greyhawk Adventures Torvik Shadowhood Dwarf Fighter/Thief - Nocturne
Thank you for the potions. They could be the difference between success and failure in our endeavor. The sorcerer places two potions into his pouch.
In Blasingdell, he thanks Sarel for her hospitality. A warm meal would be appreciated. Who knows when next we'll have this luxury. After dining, he turns in for the night.
Sometimes this summer I will most likely be participating in another 24 hour game of Dungeons & Dragons as part of Extra Life. This organization uses gaming to help raise money to donate to children's hospitals. I'm raising money for Marshfield Children's Hospital in Marshfield, WI, and all money I raise will go to that hospital. All donations are tax-deductible. Please take a moment to check out my donation page below. Thank you.
"Thank you Lady Kerowyn. I know I feel a lot better having some extra healing around. Although I don't like the thought that we'll need them. Eh. Whatever." Her eyes light up on the mapping tools, having never seen them before. "So this is how you make those lovely maps? Interesting. And anyone can do it? And people will pay for these maps?"
Sky spends the next few minutes playing with the tools. Carefully measuring out marks on the table and making little circles with the compass. Sky will take the kit.
Blasingdell
Sky never really has gotten the hang of riding horses. The urge to sink her claws into the flesh of the beast always made for a tense ride. So when the group stopped at Blasingdell, she quickly alighted and walked her horse to the Griffon's Nest. Tired as she is, her eyes soak in the half-elf and her spirits perk up.
"Thank you. You must be Sarel. Interrrresting." She purrs at the proprietor. As Kelben perfectly creates an opening, Sky swoops in. "Your markings are lovely. And how nice to have them visible to all. All mine are unfortunately covered with fur." She cocks her head and smiles. "Do you have any others? We could compare."
Blasingdell
The group is affording a fine breakfast after a restful night. Kelben inquires about the facial tattoos present on the cheek of Sarel, and almost immediately regrets the ask as he learns they were forced upon her when she was a child by her abusive, human father. "It a long time ago," she insists, suggesting that the line of questioning wasn't offensive, but Sky reconsiders the follow-up question she had in mind, just in case.
"I've had embellishments added, to help cover up the worst of the damage," she volunteers, but is content to let the discussion end.
She wishes the group well, and, after peering at the map provided to them by Kerowyn, assures the group that it's accurate. "Head almost due north, about three days. You can't really miss it."
---
We can keep role-playing here a bit, if there's anything else you want to do in Blasingdell, but otherwise we're moving here:
Kelhen gulps and looks ashamed of asking "I'm sorry to hear that is how you got them. I'm sorry I didn't realize.." he sort of just trails off feeling uneasy after the semi-awkward moment.
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred "If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
Algrim Tirion Dwarf - HarnMaser Dalin Silverhand Dwarf Thief - Barrowmaze Elwood 'Dug' The Bounty Hunter Dwarf Swashbuckler - Hedge's Adventures in the World of Golarion Roan Gravelbeard Dwarf Fighter - Hedge's Greyhawk Adventures Torvik Shadowhood Dwarf Fighter/Thief - Nocturne
Since we are...closer...here, I was hoping you may have some rumors or local knowledge you could share. Anything that pertains to our destination may make finding this lost area, well, possible.
Sometimes this summer I will most likely be participating in another 24 hour game of Dungeons & Dragons as part of Extra Life. This organization uses gaming to help raise money to donate to children's hospitals. I'm raising money for Marshfield Children's Hospital in Marshfield, WI, and all money I raise will go to that hospital. All donations are tax-deductible. Please take a moment to check out my donation page below. Thank you.
