IC III

[thirdkingdom]

Sixthmonth, Fourteenthday
Draea

The last three weeks have been one of relaxation for the adventurers. The orcish scouting post defeated, the adventurers had returned to Draea as heroes. Shortly after returning Zellar and Sumer announced their intentions to seek adventure elsewhere, or to retire entirely from the dangerous life of an explorer and live off the spoils of war they had earned.

While Gardo and Feargus stayed in Draea -- training with the siderenos and accompanying them on short scouting patrols (Baron Xelazo has promised to fence with Gardo on the 28th day of the Seventhmonth, a festival time for the ironskins), Newton headed south, back to Alice, bringing his retainers with him. Both parties find more than more supplies; another dervish arrives from Kimrid, taking Zellar's place, and while in Alice Newton encounters a cleric who offers his service to the cause.

With all the minor tasks and chores out of the way, Newton returns to Draea with his retinue, and on the evening of the Fourteenthday of the Sixthmonth the companions -- new and old -- sit around a table in the longhouse the ironskins have set aside for the softskin visitors to the domain to use, and go over their options. Feargus lays out their options:

Updated with everything I had

Dungeons & Lairs
--There is a pride of manticores terrorizing the road leading to the town of Rocky Mount
--The bandit leader Gajo controls the approach into a valley, and there's at least one hundred and fifty, maybe even two hundred of his men there.
------Gajo: a dark, heavily scarred man in chain and a reddish cape floats into his mind, flanked by two women that look identical. To the side of one is a short man with long grey hair, and to the side of the other is an enormously tall, and enormously fat, bear of a man.
--A great evil has been released in the ruins of Isendan driving refugees and beastmen ahead of it
--A green dragon named Burnnkenkrayn, "Death on the Wind," is allied with a group of orcs, the Shattered Tusk clan, warring against Draea http://www.unseenservant.us/forum/viewt ... start=1040
--The tomb of Alcaezar the Rotund who was buried with many coins near "Maknor, Jewel of the North."
http://www.unseenservant.us/forum/viewt ... start=1180
--The Hidden Treasure of the Bandit Queen Datziznaid http://www.unseenservant.us/forum/viewt ... &start=880
--The Fane of Laingal is the burial place of an ancient king, west of Draea. viewtopic.php?p=456870#p456870
--A dragon has been spotted flying over the Ironshard range, just to the west of the pass the adventurers will be taking north to Alice. As of yet it has not molested any Men.
--The Ironshard range is something of anomaly. Rising steeply from the plains to the south, it's surrounded by lowlands and forest. The terrain is almost impossibly steep, and the land itself difficult to settle. It is nominally claimed by the Scarlet Prince, but outside of the two passes -- the one on the road west towards Junction, and the one of the road north, to Alice -- it is largely unexplored and any resources within unexploited. The bulk of the range has been granted to Lady Arcaphia, the Cerise Baroness, who dwells in a castle along the northern road, although Lady Annemond, the Cochineal Baroness, has been granted the northwest portion. There is rumored to be some tension between the two.
--The woods to the north of Alice are a dangerous place, a primeval forest of ancient, toweing trees that hide numerous threats, among the most fearsome being ogres, giants, and strange, moss-covered trolls. The great dragon Valraphgon is supposed to control a great swathe of forest, although he has not been seen since the end of the Fifteenth Cycle.
--There is an old village called Mimark near hex 241.125, north of which is an abandoned temple rumoured to be full of gems:
viewtopic.php?f=783&t=8786&start=1600
--Treasure Map: In Common, an inscription upon it reads "We rode two days east of Maknor, to where a river flowed north. Following the river north we came to the upturned rock we had been told of, and there we buried Prince Damar in the royal crypts we found beneath, along with his scepter of rulership. Thus the remains of the last of the blood of the royal line of Maknor was interred." viewtopic.php?p=500092#p500092

Commercial Opportunities
--There is a lost gold mine somewhere near 70.44
--The Red Sky Mining Company is offering a bounty on the heads of beastmen
--Rhea's Ford, as a major city, is hungry for raw goods in all forms. Ore is the most valuable, but rare woods, furs, and other luxury goods are sought after, as are rare materials used in alchemical and magical compounds. The woods to the north of Alice are said to be a source of throan, an insect secretion that can be dried and purified and used in various potions.
--Gardo possesses a deed to a century mine in hex 217.11
--there's a bounty of 5,000 gold alcedes the Baron has placed on the head of Icen Viahere, the Scourge of the North, and bounties of one thousand alcedes each for his four lieutenants, that call themselves the Grey Riders."
--the Prince seeks a route eastward, to mage-factories of Umber, that could potentially bypass the other domains. This is," he reminds the adventurers, "but a representational map of the political boundaries of the Kingdom, and, in addition, dates back to the end of the previous Apex, before darkness fell during the last Nadir. We don't actually know what these boundaries look like any more. The Prince is willing to handsomely reward anyone that can blaze such a trail; money, no doubt, and likely a title and land, as well." (From Deputy Seneschal Pord)
http://www.unseenservant.us/forum/viewt ... 08#p468008


Geo-Political
--There is a city to the west called Pesh past Rocky Peak
--The prince has some desire to expand to the fertile lands west of Junction and south of Rocky Peak
--A rival band of adventurers has claimed a keep on the River Sarn and is repairing it. They have also set out to claim some star-metal in the environs of Junction, following a meteor shower.
--The Scarlet Prince and Jade Princess have always been enemies, and the Scarlet Prince is rumored to be considering an attack across the sea - though overland is more likely.
http://www.unseenservant.us/forum/viewt ... start=1140
--The Coral Principality is fractured into countless warring nobles.
http://www.unseenservant.us/forum/viewt ... start=1140
--The Scarlet Principality is edging towards war with the Azure Principality. Rumblings are heard that talks have broken down over disputed border territory. As it stands now, the best way to reach the Silver Sea has been through the Azure Principalities, but there are hopes that once the river route south down the Sarn has been opened up the Scarlet Prince will be less dependent on the eastern trade routes. Tolniel opines that if war breaks out the Principalities hunger for ore will increase dramatically, increasing the importance of the mining camps to the north of Junction and the passability of the road west, to Rocky Peak.

Errands
--We have engaged Madame Helmmarma to research Green Dragons and Death on the Wind / Burnnkenkrayn. 500 gp downpayment, 1500 gp owed. Should be complete around Fifthmonth, Fifteenthday
--We have engaged Reker Nus to research Green Dragons and Burnnkekrayn. We have his resource for 8 months until Twelfthmonth, Fifteenthday.
--We have engaged Jadas in Alice to produce two potions "that help resist the effect of its poisonous breath". 150gp down payment, 1350 gp owed. Should be complete around Fifthmonth, Twentysixthday
--Newton commissioned a masterwork ax from Odos in Draea...it will be done around Sixthmonth, Sixthday
--Zellar commissioned a masterwork scimitar from Odos in Draea...it will be done around Sixthmonth, Sixthday
--Feargus commissioned a masterwork mace from Odos in Draea...it will be done around Sixthmonth, Twentiethday

Telemachus

"Legends of things I can find and keep for my own without the locals getting angry at me for digging up their burial sites. Doesn't have to be right here but 100 miles away is less interesting unless you're talking about, say, a Staff of Wizardry."

Skaldic Twins

The two look at each other, eyebrows arched. Dreksme, or maybe it is Kitac, strums his zither as the other one speaks. "Well, if it is legends you seek I know a few. The Baron's own mother died not fifteen years ago, repelling a dragon with scales the color of new spring growth; the dragon was not slain, but fled to lick its wounds, and has not been heard of since, although the tales say it is curled in its lair, plotting revenge. No doubt it has a great hoard, as do all of its kind." He stops and the other brother continues. "About three years ago a party of softskins . . . I mean, humans . . . rode through here on their way west, seeking what they called the Fane of Laingal, supposedly the burial place of an ancient king. They stayed the night, spoke to the Baron, and then left in the morning, never to return."

The potions were brought back by Newton on his return to Draea.

[shaidar]

Newton looks around the table.

"We agreed we would deal with the green dragon, and I think we should keep our word, a man's reputation is important. That said, I do not believe we are prepared, yet, to take on the dragon. We should speak to Madame Fleur through the enchanted mirror and see what information Madame Helmmarma has discovered about the creature. "

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

"True enough, Newt. We also have those potions to get from Alice...and good old Reker Nus may have info for us. So with some errands to run, we could send some of our trusted lieutenants down that way and maybe follow that map we got from the trolls to The Hidden Treasure of the Bandit Queen Datziznaid

[shaidar]

Newton

"Apologies, I forgot to say, I picked up those potions while I was in Alice, they are in my saddle bags. I think looking into that treasure map would be useful while we wait on the information on the dragon. Taking on the dragon will require money and magic, that is for sure."

[VonAlric]

Gardo

"The dragon is still out of our reach. I would not go against it without some magic support. Mariusz and I were discussing that the next person I hire on should be a mage. If we are to hire other men and competent followers, we need more cash. This king fane thing or whatever and the bandit queen should have some coins for us to start building up a major force. Mariusz also noted that the Mimark place should lay to the east of here and a bit north. North of that is the jewels in that temple."

"My suggestion is to talk with Madame Fleur for updates. Someone would have to travel back south to get the info from the helmet woman and Reker, right? Let's decide how that should go." He turns to the new company members. "You are a part of this as well, Shmara, Ardath. What say you?"

[shaidar]

Newton

"Not wishing to interrupt our new friends but we could have Madame Fleur send someone to collect the information and relay it through the mirror, that would mean we don't have to split up." he looks at Shmara and Ardath "Apologies. I will now shut up and let you speak your minds, friends."

[Leitz]

Ardath

"There is wisdom in knowing what one can do, and what one is not ready for, yet." Ardath smiled as he looked at the others. "Let me offer two thoughts. First, it sounds like the dragon is the largest challenge before us. I respect your willingness to fulfill promises. There is a lot of information here and my recommendation would be to focus on the long term goal, and then apply ourselves to short term steps to reach that goal. For example, there are lost cities, a lost temple, commercial interests, etc. If the dragon is the long term goal, with funds and magical protections desired for the battle, then what short term goals bring us closer without incurring the final risk? Which direction is the dragon in, and if we face that way, what other options are not too far to the side? Perhaps focus on those?"

He looked around for a moment, and then shrugged. "The second thought is different, but perhaps useful. Some of you know each other, and have fought side by side. You don't know me, and I do not believe you know the lady Shmara. Nor do we know you. Strategically tackling stepping stones to the main goal will let us learn of each other; whether we are reliable in a fight, and what we bring to the group. It's easy to say 'I can do this', or 'I can do that'. When our lives depend on each other, a deep knowledge may be better than merely being told."

[thirdkingdom]

There've been a couple of suggestions about contacting Madame Fleur. Is that something you'd like to do now?

[The_Wanderer]

Sure, let’s have her check in with the two sages

[thirdkingdom]

Sixthmonth, Fourteenthday
Draea

Before a course of action is decided on the companions elect to contact Madame Fleur, their factor newly relocated to Rheas Ford. The magical mirror reveals her face soon enough; she seems to be in the middle of breakfast and sips on coffee as the two new companions are introduced. "Pleased to meet you," she says, "when you get a chance send someone south to Alice and Mardan will set them up with accounts. I have heard back from the two sages. I guess if anything is true about dragons it is that Men rarely agree about them, but I will tell you what I know."

She shuffles some papers on her desk and finally finds what she is looking for. "Not much is known of Burnnkenkrayn. There was a famous dragon named Valraphgon that controlled much of the woods north of Alice, but she has not been seen since the beginning of the Fifteenth Cycle, nearly three hundred years ago. Her scales, in any case, were a mottled brown, and not truly green. A dragon named Burnnkenkrayn is mentioned in the journals of Sysasah Syn, a merchant who traded with Kimrid at the beginning of the Fifteenth Nadir. The priests of Mnencir had complained about the depredations that this dragon had wrought, but then it was not long afterwards that the veil of Chaos fell across the land and contact with the north was lost. Burnnkenkrayn was known to be young, then, so is likely perhaps two hundred years of age? Dragons of that age are deadly foes. Not as large and powerful as the truly ancient beasts, but possessed of guile and cunning and retaining some of the vigor of youth. It is not only their breath you will need to watch; they often possess the ability to cast spells, as magic-users, illusionists, or rarely clerics or druids, or have other special abilities they acquire as they age. Some can shapechange, while others still grow hardened scales, or can only be slain by magical weaponry or spells. One thing we did learn is that Burnnkenkrayn, as a forests dragon, possesses a fetid breath, breathing not a cloud of chlorine, as is most common of its type, but instead a cone of rot and decay! The journals of Sysasah refer to the carnage the dragon inflicted upon the woods outside of Kimrid, once it failed to breach the walls that surrounded it. In a fit of rage the dragon breathed its horrid breath upon the nearby trees and nearly a half acre of old-growth oaks rotted and fell within an instant. Were the walls of Kimrid wood, and not stone, there is no doubt the dragon could have disintigrated them with a well-placed breath!"

[thirdkingdom]

Sixthmonth, Fourteenthday
Draea

As the adventurers deliberate, Father Odos, the craft-priest of Yster, approaches, accompanied by Telemachus the mage. "We have examined the items plundered from the orcish war-party," he says, "and have made the following identifications:

*The two blades are finely made but possess no magical enchantment. +1 masterwork swords. Bonus applies to damage rolls only.
*The axe possesses a minor dweomer. +1 to hit and damage, is magical
*The crossbow is magical. Bolts fired from it gain no special qualities, but once per day the wielder can invoke the powers of the crossbow to fire two phantom bolts generated by the resonations of the string once a normal bolt has been fired. These two phantom bolts are considered magical for the purposes of damaging creatures and automatically hit the target of the first bolt for 1d4 damage each
*The dagger possess a moderate enchantment +2 dagger
*The potions are: healing, diminuition, polymorph.

Odos continues. "We identified these items for you out of gratitude for your deeds, but know that I will be requiring donations made to the temple of Yster should you bring me more items to identify.

The Aftermath

Valru's expression is as hard as her skin as she surveys the carnage. "My men fought valiantly," she says, "as did yours, against a mighty foe. We typically burn our dead, in the field or home. As a broken sword is melted down to be reforged, so are we at the end of our days. How do you softskins honor your dead?"

The rest of the day is spent searching the village. An enormous haul is found, consisting of:

*4 scrolls the scrolls have already been identified. See this post: viewtopic.php?p=500092#p500092
*Two swords, an axe, a crossbow, and a dagger that Zellar and Sumer judge are likely valuable.
*3 potions, unlabeled.

Of most interest, though likely less value, the adventurers find one whole hut filled with foodstuffs, dried goods, and tools that look to be of human origin. It's mostly utilitarian stuff, perhaps worth a few hundred gold, but suggests the orcs have recently raided a human community somewhere nearby.

[shaidar]

Newton nods to Father Odos and Telemachus

"We appreciate both your efforts. We shall be sure to remember to show our generosity to the church next time"

He looks at the others "While more enchanted weapons is useful, I think what Madame Fleur has told us just reinforces the fact that we need more time to prepare"

[thirdkingdom]

Madame Fleur

"Is there anything else you'd like me to do? Don't forget that you've retained the services of Reker Nus for the next few months, so if there is anything else you'd like him to research I can put him on that."

[shaidar]

Newton

"We could have Reker Nus look into Isenden, perhaps?"

[thirdkingdom]

Newton

"We could have Reker Nus look into Isenden, perhaps?"

For those who have forgotten, Isenden is a ruined city to the north and west of Draea. Some relevant posts are here:

Notai

Her eyes narrow at the scout's final statement. She stares at him for a moment or two then softens slightly. "Unknowing you may be as Gardo speaks little of things. I shall give you understanding."

"To the north, the boundaries you men claim to have do not exist there. My people and the wind were sisters and moved where we pleased across the lands. We saw remains of great cities and other things, staying to the edges. The one time our chief, my father, decided to listen to a man was the end for my people. Isendan was the place we went and went into. I cannot remember all that happened but know that I am all that remains of my tribe, there are no others."

"If you want to find others like myself, there is word of a tribe to the south of where I met your group. My steps were certain towards others like me until Gardo spoke." She softens a bit more. "Curious that a human would change my mind so, even as I swore I would not be the same as my father. Something about Gardo is hard to resist."

"Now, happenings near me may draw me back to a place I fled, fled from horrors that I wish to forget. The three women in Kimrid speak of Isenden and now that book speas of the same area. Some time ago I would have said no to returning, now it is unclear. Gardo made no claim to keep me, I am still free. His offer was for me to travel alongside him until my skills were enough to make a journey south less taxing. When that time comes, Gardo and I will decide."

"So, if you wish to travel north, that is upon you. Gardo's thoughts will be heard by you and you will hear his. After that, it is unknown."

Fourthmonth, Twentysecondday

Over the course of the evening the adventurers find themselves enriched with two maps, one courtesy of the Sisters, the other from Zellar. Zellar is able to fill in some of the details of the land surround Kimrid, although most of the information she possesses has been pieced together not from personal knowledge but from the tales of merchants and travelers.

The Knowledge of Mnencir 11.25.19.png

The Sisters Three

A map is spread out in front of Notai. "Isendan is here" says the first, pointing to the hex labeled 218.94. "The red line is not what we know, but what we suspect," says the second. "Rumors and tales," says the third, "whispers carried by those fleeing whatever it is".

Sister's Map 11.25.19.png

The Sisters Three

"We are from a place to the north of Isendan, north of your tribe's traditional range," says the first one. "About a year ago we began to receive refugees fleeing from the communities to the south. Human, mostly, but other races, as well," says the second. "Speaking of a great evil that had been unleashed from the ruins of Isendan, and spreading." says the third. "Even the beastmen -- orcs and gnolls, goblins and ogres -- were affected by this, and those that could were fleeing," picks up the first. "Through these refugees we heard tales of what happened, how Men searching for treasures had awakened something deep under the earth," says the second. "Your people, deer-woman, who had guided them there, were slain, all of them, so we thought then," continues the third.

The three women paused, looking at one another. "The oracle at Mnencir is known to us," continues the first. "Our Queen sent us here to ask questions," says the second. "But the answers we received are riddles," finishes the third, "and raise even more questions." The third continues the looping narrative. "We plan on leaving for Beoae in the morning," she says, and the first continues. "We must talk to our Queen," she says, and the second finishes, "our lands can only support so many, and if this evil is truly moving . . ." "How long before it reaches us?" asks the third.

[VonAlric]

Gardo

Mariusz taps Gardo a couple of times to get his attention then speaks in a hushed voice. Gardo nods, saying "right, right. Yeah, good idea." He turns to the group. "How about we have Reker look into information about Mimark and Maknor, their locations and even if he can get his hands on some maps of the area? Mariusz also had an idea that we might want to engage a cart gopher to help make new maps considering where we will be going and such."

After a second, he turns to the mirror and asks "Any word on how the Baron's daughter is doing down there? I'd rather our host not get concerned that we put her into a situation that she couldn't handle."

[thirdkingdom]

Gardo

Mariusz taps Gardo a couple of times to get his attention then speaks in a hushed voice. Gardo nods, saying "right, right. Yeah, good idea." He turns to the group. "How about we have Reker look into information about Mimark and Maknor, their locations and even if he can get his hands on some maps of the area? Mariusz also had an idea that we might want to engage a cart gopher to help make new maps considering where we will be going and such."

After a second, he turns to the mirror and asks "Any word on how the Baron's daughter is doing down there? I'd rather our host not get concerned that we put her into a situation that she couldn't handle."

Sixthmonth, Fourteenthday
Draea

There is a diplomatic pause. "She is . . . adjusting," Madame Fleur says, finally. "Whatever qualities the ironskins may possess, it saddens me to say the subtlety does not seem to be one of them. She is learning, though, and the young baron's broken arm will heal in time."

[shaidar]

Newton smiles at Madame Fleur's response "I think you're right Gardo, we should have Reker look into Mimark and Maknor before we go traipsing off in that direction"

[thirdkingdom]

Newton smiles at Madame Fleur's response "I think you're right Gardo, we should have Reker look into Mimark and Maknor before we go traipsing off in that direction"

Sixthmonth, Fourteenthday
Draea

"Mimark and Maknor," Fleur repeats, writing down the names. "Anything specific you're looking for, or just a broad overview?"

[shaidar]

Newton thinks for a moment

"Mimark, maybe 60 miles NNE of Alice, 30 miles ESE of Draea. We were told that to the north of Mimark there were ruins of a temple, filled with emeralds. It might be useful to know anything about this temple, if it was a temple. As for Maknor, a location would be handy to start. Then anything about royal crypts around two days travel to the east, then following a river north. Prince Damar was supposedly buried there with his sceptre of rulership.