Helix: The Brazen Strumpet

[Monsieur Rose]

Sir Dewey

"Needs must, Vann Hector, if that may be the only way." He lowers his head for a moment, then back up to continue. "That is why evil is so insidious, one may only desire power and one day finds himself debased beyond redemption at the acts performed to gain it."

He finally registers the slander Vann Hector speaks of Brother Gamdar. "What? Do you have proof to back up that claim? Are the cults that far-reaching and established?"

[Stirling]

Vann Hector

"No offense was intended but I do not easily trust. That paranoia has served me well thus far.

No, I have no evidence to accuse any in the village, save rumour and the gossip of fishwives and stable girls.

But certainly a rogue guild operates in Helix despite Pernicious' strongest denials and I would suspect if racketeers and black market smugglers abound then a spy, an agent, a cultist might be covertly living among us too."

He says no more. There are lots of 'politics' being played on the fringe of our knowledge. Rumours regarding Osen and his concern for a northern rancher. Sir Dewey himself met a Gnoll who said that 'he watched the village' from afar. Cultists or creatures attacking village locations, the logging camp and shrine. Certain NPC's engaging characters to spy on other NPC's.

He takes his leave, ready to leave for the mounds when the start is decided.

oh, in answer to an earlier comment. He was refering to Sundance, the elf mage at the guild not Sigrid.

Having a mage join in might be worth the cost. I am sure that a more intelligent or arcane minded person might be needed to help us overcome certain challenges and puzzles.

[Darkmane]

Moorheeth

Moorheeth watched the banter intently, nodding here and there. As it begins to wind down he interjects, to greet the newcomers.


Well met, I’m Moorheeth Meer, Cleric of Arcantryl. This talk of forming a guild is intriguing, and the rest of these threads are mostly troubling.


Not sure exactly what to make of all the intrigues, but still attracted to the now confirmed riches, he stares into the glimmer of lamplights reflecting off his beer, and thinks of sparkling gems…

[Quonundrum]

Moriartus - June 3rd

Moriartus checks into a premier accommodations suite for the night and the following day. The first thing he does is relax into a hot bubble bath and peruses the hobgoblin language textbooks he acquired in Ironguard.

-3gp

[Karaunios]

Dougal will get deluxe upkeep for the same time as Moriartus and also a kennel for his dog.

He will relax and rest at first, then got train his dog.

3gp and 2sp deducted.

[ravenn4544]

Jorly awakens.

It’s a beautiful blue morning sky. The birds are chirping. Harmony.

Then the blinding headache. The kind that feels like your eyeballs are getting squeezed to near bursting. Too bright to keep them open.

His joints and bones creak and pop as he rolls over on his side. The grass and leaves and sticks sticking to his robes where he finally fell. The wine skin, empty of course, laying there innocently enough. His eyes linger on it for a few seconds with a guilty conscious. He sighs.

“What if I just lay here awhile. A long while,” he thinks.

“We aren’t doing this again. Get up. You promised yourself you’d get up and attend to what needs doing if you only had that last skin. Get up.”

He sighs.

He takes a deep breath. Then another. Delaying what must be done or actually preparing himself? He isn’t quite sure himself.

He manages to pull himself to his knees then his feet. Snap, crackle, and pop of tendons tight from a night on a cold ground. He cracks an eye open and peers around, not remembering exactly where he called it a night, to see if he was actually alone. Small miracle. Alone. He brushes his mistakes from his robes and collects himself.

Stretches and movement to get the blood going. Loosening the muscles. Focusing on the movements and exercises. The headache is distracting at first but breathing and mediation is helpful. The right pressure, applied to the palm just so, alleviates the pain further to where it is just another ache and pain in his seasoned body. After a little longer than usual, Jorly finds focus and begins…

…Much later that morning, Jorly leaves the woods with his humble belongings, and quickly finds the road. It’s but a short walk to Helix. “I made it further then I thought last night…”

He enters the town and finds the Brazen Strumpet he was heading for to be closed still. Nearing noon it should be opening soon for the mid-day crowd. He finds a nearby place to sit and wait and his eyes tend to linger on the door. Sitting leaned over and quiet in the square, in his travel stained robes, defies the gracefulness of the mornings routines.

“You okay, old-timer, sir?” a younger boy passing by on some errand asks him.

Jorly considers the boy and considers his response. He smirks. “It’s not the age, sonny – it’s the mileage.”

The Inn starts to open for the day. The conversation in his head begins anew.

“Don’t even think it.”
“I trained today like I promised so just a few drinks.”
“No.”
“I promise to get up and train tomorrow no matter what”
…
“Fine.”

He makes his way to Inn.

[OGRE MAGE]

Nice intro post!

Sven heads to the tavern, looking around for his former associates. If he sees Alisdar the beggar outside, he buys the man something to eat and drink after saying hello.

"Rollo my old friend, we have returned. And all food and drinks are on me tonight, good sir." He lays 10 platinum coins on the bar to cover his lodging and any tabs that accumulate during the evening. 50gp deducted

"If there is any leftover, split it up evenly as a tip for you and each member of your staff."

Not sure how we handle folks who are not present in town because they are behind the timeline, so please advise if you have a preferred method we use. I just don't want to forget to do all of this stuff.

Isvand: 5,262gp
Gerdal: 4,602gp (along with six 110gp pearls)

(And don't forget to add Amos' share to his notes, please, if you haven't already.
Amos: 1,020gp)

[Spearmint]

Isvand: 5,262gp
Gerdal: 4,602gp (along with six 110gp pearls)

Lodged at the Rosy Quartz for redemption when they return to Helix. If unclaimed after one year, you can redeem it yourself, minus a % storage charge.

The Brazen Strumpet Tavern

June 4th 1066

Approaching the tavern, you see two folk sitting cross-legged upon the verandah. The half-dressed, half mad Alastar and another older fellow, dressed in plain robes and sandals who sits alongside him upon a canvas sheet that might double as a tent, with the bare necessities for travel. He does not beg or rattle a tin cup, but sits patiently watching the world go by until opening time.

Flush with coins, the young mage covers the ales and meals of a number of patrons as the staff cook up various pastries add extra meaty bones into the stew leftovers from yesterday.

Jorly, enters at the invitation to partake and can take a bowl and fresh bread to a table. Alastar takes his portion, returning to his verandah roost and spreads crumbs about for the pigeons to peck at.

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth heads to the inn with Sven. "Are we still bunking together Sven? I prefer that."

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven

"Yes! I prefer that as well. Safety in numbers and all that."

"I have our same room paid for in advance."

[OGRE MAGE]

The Brazen Strumpet Tavern
June 4th 1066
Jorly, enters at the invitation to partake and can take a bowl and fresh bread to a table. Alastar takes his portion, returning to his verandah roost and spreads crumbs about for the pigeons to peck at.

"So Jorly, what brings you all the way to Helix? I am called Sven, and this is Orgoth. We are treasure hunters, so to speak. What is it that you do for a living, if you don't mind my asking?"

[Rex]

Orgoth

"Thanks Sven."

Orgoth smiles at Alastar and Jorly. "How are you two doing today?"

[ravenn4544]

Jorly gratefully accepts the offer of a bowl of bread. It is these small kindnesses that reaffirm his hopefulness.

He steps out of his introspection as the questions are posed to him. There is no sign of annoyance or joy in his immediate reaction, but one more akin to a quiet curiosity. He considers the simple question quite seriously. "What do I 'do' for a 'living'. Hmmm. I would say I am trying to 'live' by 'doing'. Does that make sense? I would further go on to say that is what led me to stray this way - I understand there is quite a bit of 'doing' going on here. From the looks of things, I wasn't misled. I appreciate the bread, here, and the welcome. What of yourselves? Tell me."

He finds the distraction of these newly met strangers a welcome one.

[scottjen]

Fydmar
Will go for VIP accommodations for the night. 5gp deducted.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Durgo arranges a deluxe room for a couple nights.

Durgo relaxes, bathes and cleans his hide armor. He sharpens and cleans his longsword. He'll clean his clothing as well.

- 3gp 2 sp

Meeting up with the others he'll ask about their next adventure, "Hail friends, Is there a plan for another adventure, if you'll have me? I'm working with the bowyer to get a bow made. I can pick it up if there's something you're planning soon."

Sheet updated...I didn't change my HP after the brawl yet.

[Spearmint]

The Brazen Strumpet Tavern

May 18th 1066

Arriving with a caravan of wagons, barbarian mage Sigrid Myrkva returns to Helix

She pays a week's upkeep of choice and largely practices her spell craft and skaldic inspiration.

During the forthcoming week you can get up to date with local events (hospice fire, Soothsayer trial, snake-men attack) and meet up with former colleagues who can share their experiences of the raid with Foxrell upon the Sauron Mound.

[Stirling]

Vann Hector

Frequenting the tavern he sees Sigrid

He enquires regarding her trip, glad to see her back and having completed the trek across the Barrowmoor. He doesn't admit to it, but he thought the trio had little chance of survival. He knows full well the dangers by the river having been acosted by froglings before.

"How are you? How was your journey? When did you get back?" he asks questions, probably too many.

Then he shares about the experience they had in the mound. "Cosmo seduced a whole bunch of lizardmen with a phantasm, Sir Dewey duelled a crypt knight and err ... lost but don't worry a priest of St Ygg rose him up from near death and we killed all the Sauron priests except one, a prisoner in the Manse who is going to help us defeat an even greater death Knight that the Saurons' kept in some kind of undead chains beyond a bronze portal that a mage might be needed to open.

And this is Moorheeth. He is a cleric of the mage god Arcantryl ..."

He prattles on but you can 'read all about it' in the other thread.

[OGRE MAGE]

Jorly gratefully accepts the offer of a bowl of bread. It is these small kindnesses that reaffirm his hopefulness.

He steps out of his introspection as the questions are posed to him. There is no sign of annoyance or joy in his immediate reaction, but one more akin to a quiet curiosity. He considers the simple question quite seriously. "What do I 'do' for a 'living'. Hmmm. I would say I am trying to 'live' by 'doing'. Does that make sense? I would further go on to say that is what led me to stray this way - I understand there is quite a bit of 'doing' going on here. From the looks of things, I wasn't misled. I appreciate the bread, here, and the welcome. What of yourselves? Tell me."

He finds the distraction of these newly met strangers a welcome one.

Sven finds a simple fascination in the way this newcomer speaks.

“Enjoy some stew and seared venison with your bread, friend. We are explorers, I suppose. We take on dangerous monsters, mostly undead it seems. Wights, Ghouls, Ghasts, exploding skeletons, lots of nasty things out there.”

“If you are looking for something really dangerous, we know of a group who are going out on the moors soon to exterminate a nest of Harpies. We are going to travel together with them on our next return to the mist. If you think you can aid them in some way, perhaps Moriartus would agree to take you in full time.”

The young orange haired mage looks around the tavern in case an introduction is in order. (not sure if Moriartus is present at the moment, but his entire group was invited to participate in this feast)

[Rex]

Orgoth

To Jorly, "It is dangerous business for sure, can't count high enough to know how many times I have been near death."

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven leans in close to the pair, whispering.

“If Moriartus doesn’t need another, do you think you are brave and foolhardy enough to venture forth with…. us?”