IC II

[shaidar]

No worries. I'd forgot about it myself and then thought I'd better put something down about it before I forgot again.

[VonAlric]

Gardo

Hearing the Baron, he pays attention to the words used. "Good Baron, when you say track down and locate, are you saying that you would prefer for us to provide a location so your forces can deal with things? Or, when my old employer said to 'find and locate' something, it was to do both and deal with the item in question? I think we wouldn't mind to take care of this small thing that is proving to be an annoyance for you. Save your people to protect your borders and such."

"Now, here's an idea that comes to mind, listen to this. If you have someone in your company that you trust, you should send them with us. In fact, I have meant to speak to you about that. There are a lot of things going on in the lands and having someone travel and see them then report back would do you a great service. I know you said your daughter is going as an emmisomething but this would be a person who would travel and mingle with the more common elements in the society which really helps you know how things are going in a land. My old boss always said the workers knew better how things were going than the mayors and such. I think that we would also like to know more about your people and having one travel with us lets us know you better. Besides, the way this company is going, the more different each person is, the more notoriety we would have and raises every racial profile to better known heights.... or something like that. Mariusz was saying this to me one evening while I was trying to drink, I don't think I heard everything right."

[thirdkingdom]

Zellar

"It occurs to me, Father Odos, that both our faiths seek to build order from chaos. The wisdom of Mnencir has guided the people of Kimrid through difficult times by giving form to uncertainty, just as you follow in the footsteps of Yster by crafting works from raw metal.

"In this dangerous age, there, though is a more pressing object which must be wrought into a pure form from its negative chaotic darkness: the world itself! My companions and I seek to re-establish the rule of law throughout Absalom, and we need as many arms as we can recruit to do it. Would any of your iron-priests join us on this quest? It would do us all well to build the friendships between the faiths, and demonstrate to the world that the gods of law stand together against the maelstrom of chaos."

Odos

The priest frowns slightly. "We are not a martial order, and are further few in number. I will ask the craft-priests, but you should know that many of those you see here are not clerics, but laypersons. But I will inquire."

[thirdkingdom]

Gardo

Hearing the Baron, he pays attention to the words used. "Good Baron, when you say track down and locate, are you saying that you would prefer for us to provide a location so your forces can deal with things? Or, when my old employer said to 'find and locate' something, it was to do both and deal with the item in question? I think we wouldn't mind to take care of this small thing that is proving to be an annoyance for you. Save your people to protect your borders and such."

"Now, here's an idea that comes to mind, listen to this. If you have someone in your company that you trust, you should send them with us. In fact, I have meant to speak to you about that. There are a lot of things going on in the lands and having someone travel and see them then report back would do you a great service. I know you said your daughter is going as an emmisomething but this would be a person who would travel and mingle with the more common elements in the society which really helps you know how things are going in a land. My old boss always said the workers knew better how things were going than the mayors and such. I think that we would also like to know more about your people and having one travel with us lets us know you better. Besides, the way this company is going, the more different each person is, the more notoriety we would have and raises every racial profile to better known heights.... or something like that. Mariusz was saying this to me one evening while I was trying to drink, I don't think I heard everything right."

Baron Xelazo

The Baron nods as Gardo speaks. "There is merit to your suggestion. I have plans to send my daughter as an ambassador to your lands, but it might be even more valuable to send another as a part of your entourage, to travel widely with you, and be exposed to things that . . . an official ambassador might not otherwise see. Let me think on this. Would one of your party be willing to take on the responsibility of training a younger, less experienced follower?"

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus spends the meal quieter than usual. When he hears talk of the Baron's daughter becoming an emissary, he tracks her down and introduces himself.

"It will be our pleasure to accompany you southward. Tell me, what do you and your father hope to accomplish in your dealings with the Principality?"

[thirdkingdom]

Feargus spends the meal quieter than usual. When he hears talk of the Baron's daughter becoming an emissary, he tracks her down and introduces himself.

"It will be our pleasure to accompany you southward. Tell me, what do you and your father hope to accomplish in your dealings with the Principality?"

Fifthmonth, Sixthday
The Meadhall

Feargus is introduced to Xelazo's daughter. She is tall, about Feargus's height, with short metallic hair and a long scar on her left cheek that runs from her temple to the underside of her chin. It is raised, almost like a weld, and much darker than the rest of her skin. "I am called Kzerzo," she says, "and it is a pleasure to meet you. We, that is, my father, hopes to establish diplomatic relations with the much larger domain to the south. Since the end of the last Apex there has been little communication between us -- mostly through the tales of refugees, or merchant caravans -- and we seek to begin this Apex on the right foot. No doubt the thrust of civilization, the ever widening gyre of expansion, will bring us into closer proximity, and we do not want to be caught unprepared."

[VonAlric]

Gardo

Gardo starts and stops speaking a few times. He finally decides something and addresses the Baron.

"I think we would need to see who of your people is willing to travel with us. I think we would want to make sure that whoever travels with us knows that we face death on a regular basis. I can only speak for myself but let us see who is willing to step forward."

He takes a drink then continues. "I would also like to speak to you on another matter. However, if I did so now, I would probably say things in a poor way and you do not deserve that. If I could speak to you in the next day or so on this, I think it would be best for both of us. For tonight, drinking and enjoying the company of warriors is what I need."

[thirdkingdom]

Fifthmonth, Sixthday
Draea

After speaking with Odos, Newton seeks out a tanner. There are two of them in Draea, and Odos recommends that he goes to see Maknor Gen, who he says has more experience with the hides of exotic animals. Maknor proves to be an older ironskin, with a shriveled left arm that he holds close in to his body. "A hydra, you say!" he exclaims, peering at the skin, "it must have put up quite a fight! Those are beasts out of legend. You're lucky to have brought it to me when you did; the skin's starting to rot, just a little. I can get her tanned; it'll take about three months and cost one hundred gold. I figure you should have enough there to get two, maybe three suits of armor out of it, with enough left-over to make a saddle or two."

The Meadhall
Baron Xelazo

"I tell you what; if you can track down -- and potentially eliminate -- this orc problem, I'll assemble a few candidates that would be willing to serve you, and you can take your pick among them. I'll make sure they're stout and strong, warriors all, you have my word on that."

[shaidar]

Newton

"Thank you Master Gen, that sounds very acceptable"

He hands over the hide and the money.

[The_Wanderer]

"I tell you what; if you can track down -- and potentially eliminate -- this orc problem, I'll assemble a few candidates that would be willing to serve you, and you can take your pick among them. I'll make sure they're stout and strong, warriors all, you have my word on that."

Feargus

Feargus chooses this moment to join the conversation and says (at this point only a little drunk), "Just point us to where you saw the beasts. I think we can take care of it."

[thirdkingdom]

"I tell you what; if you can track down -- and potentially eliminate -- this orc problem, I'll assemble a few candidates that would be willing to serve you, and you can take your pick among them. I'll make sure they're stout and strong, warriors all, you have my word on that."

Feargus

Feargus chooses this moment to join the conversation and says (at this point only a little drunk), "Just point us to where you saw the beasts. I think we can take care of it."

Baron Xelazo

"Haha! I like your spirit! I will arrange for the Captain of my Guard to brief you all in the morning!"

Fifthmonth, Seventhday
Draea

The day looks to be clear and warm, the quintessential spring day. The foliage surrounding the Barony is in full bloom, a riot of color encircling the settlement. Telemachus retreats to the small library closet to continue his studies, while the Baron meets with the rest of the party, two siderenos at his side. "This is Captain Virwon," the Baron says, indicating his first companion, a shorter ironskin, clothed only in a long kilt, like many of his kind. The Captain's torso is marked by scarring, thick raised furrows that are dark with rust. "This," he says, gesturing to the other, "is Valru, a scout with the patrols. She will travel with you and lead you to the place where the encounter occurred." Valru is on the shorter side, and stocky, wearing the same long kilt as her companions. Like many of the female ironskins they have encountered, she wears a sash across her breasts, and no armor. A short blade is at her side, and she carries a long spear in one hand.

Valru speaks up. "The orcs were encountered about twelve miles to the east, at the outside range of our patrols. They fled even further eastwards. I would expect they are no more than two days away, on horseback, so you would likely want to pack for a journey of, say, three days. I do not think they would be further than that."

Before leaving, Odos sends a messenger, letting them know that both axe and scimitar should be ready in no more than a month.

[shaidar]

Newton

"Greetings. That is good to know, we can travel light, taking just what we need. I think we all eager to get going once the horses are packed. How many orcs do you expect, and is there anything unusual about this group, apart from the expected shaman's and suchlike?"

[thirdkingdom]

Newton

"Greetings. That is good to know, we can travel light, taking just what we need. I think we all eager to get going once the horses are packed. How many orcs do you expect, and is there anything unusual about this group, apart from the expected shaman's and suchlike?"

Valru

"Not anything unusual, that I know, other than the size of the raiding party was larger than what we normally see. It's just that there has been increasing orcish activity over the past month or so, and we want to know what is driving it."

[thirdkingdom]

I'm just going to go ahead and post Telemachus's day. It takes him 5-1/2 hours to finish the book on the Manonlar Dynasty.

Fifthmonth, Seventhday
Draea

Telemachus spends the bulk of the day finishing the first book. Most of it is relatively dry -- geneologies of the royal family, detached synopses of battles fought, or crop failures, or the minutae of governing. Several things jump out at him, though:

*Numerous mentions are made of Layngol's torc and sword. The torc was apparently a symbol of leadership and was passed on to his children. The blade, called Presa in the book, was buried with Layngol in the royal crypt upon his death. From the context both were items of magical puissance.

*There is also mention of something called the Masinarie, something that protected the city, perhaps? Or maybe a siege weapon or other engine of war.

*While there is no map of the route to Maknor -- other than subtle hints (it is, for instance, said that Maknor is a three weeks caravan journey to the city of Zizdul) -- there *is* a map of the city itself. One building, that looks as though it was part of the royal complex, is circled, and the word "Galgalhattar" written next to it. The ink looks relatively new, far newer than the faded ink the rest of the book is written in.

Map of Maknor Final.jpg (958.77 KiB) Viewed 646 times

He spends the rest of the day, what little of it there is, starting in on the next book. It's pretty dense and difficult to follow, and the first ten or so pages are just mathematical formulae with little context.

https://orokos.com/roll/784069: 1d8+8 16 Will take 16 hours to read the book on ley lines. He gets 2.5 hours in on the 7thday.

[VonAlric]

Gardo

He nods to Newton. "Good question, glad you asked that." He looks around to others but keeps looking sideways at Virwon. After a few times of this, he quickly turns to the siderenos. "I'm sorry Captain, but it is just bugging me and I've got to know." He makes a motion to the scar on the warrior's chest. "Do your scars hurt when they look like that? I know that we try to make sure our weapons and armor don't rust but you are living and breathing and moving. It is amazing to me to see a people who have skin of iron, I keep wondering what other differences there are between us. Like that scar. I know a guy who had a big scar on his back that went from shoulder to his butt. Sometimes in the winter he said it would ache."

[thirdkingdom]

Gardo

He nods to Newton. "Good question, glad you asked that." He looks around to others but keeps looking sideways at Virwon. After a few times of this, he quickly turns to the siderenos. "I'm sorry Captain, but it is just bugging me and I've got to know." He makes a motion to the scar on the warrior's chest. "Do your scars hurt when they look like that? I know that we try to make sure our weapons and armor don't rust but you are living and breathing and moving. It is amazing to me to see a people who have skin of iron, I keep wondering what other differences there are between us. Like that scar. I know a guy who had a big scar on his back that went from shoulder to his butt. Sometimes in the winter he said it would ache."

Captain Virwon

The Captain laughs. "By the forges of the dwarves, hells yes they hurt! We bleed just the same as you soft-skins do, our skin's just a little harder. Mostly my scars ache when they get wet and start to rust; smarter folk then me take care to oil their scars, and their skin, so has to keep that from happening."

[sulldawga]

I'm just going to go ahead and post Telemachus's day. It takes him 5-1/2 hours to finish the book on the Manonlar Dynasty.

He spends the rest of the day, what little of it there is, starting in on the next book. It's pretty dense and difficult to follow, and the first ten or so pages are just mathematical formulae with little context.

https://orokos.com/roll/784069: 1d8+8 16 Will take 16 hours to read the book on ley lines. He gets 2.5 hours in on the 7thday.

Telemachus

The mage resolves to tell his friends later about the first book. He's not sure if any of the magic items will be of benefit to him but the sword will benefit someone and who knows what powers the torc may have?

He settles in to wrap his brain around the details of the second book.

Is the Zizdul mentioned here the same one from our previous game? Or is that too much like metaknowledge for Telemachus to get the reference?

[thirdkingdom]

I'm just going to go ahead and post Telemachus's day. It takes him 5-1/2 hours to finish the book on the Manonlar Dynasty.

He spends the rest of the day, what little of it there is, starting in on the next book. It's pretty dense and difficult to follow, and the first ten or so pages are just mathematical formulae with little context.

https://orokos.com/roll/784069: 1d8+8 16 Will take 16 hours to read the book on ley lines. He gets 2.5 hours in on the 7thday.

Telemachus

The mage resolves to tell his friends later about the first book. He's not sure if any of the magic items will be of benefit to him but the sword will benefit someone and who knows what powers the torc may have?

He settles in to wrap his brain around the details of the second book.

Is the Zizdul mentioned here the same one from our previous game? Or is that too much like metaknowledge for Telemachus to get the reference?

He probably would have heard of Zizdul before, now known as Zizdul the Fallen, and know that it is south of Junction, on the shores of the Silver Sea.

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

"If we're able to track the orcs from the site of the last raid, perhaps we can surprise them in their lair. If so, I can prepare the group by calling upon the blessing of the Mnencir, and we can lure the orcs into the open where the archers can soften them before we close our mailed fist upon them."

[thirdkingdom]

Fifthmonth, Seventhday
Hex 234.123

The adventurers, sans Telemachus, mount up and follow Valru, who rides more easily upon her massive warhorse than many of the ironskins they have thus seen. The siderenos scout leads them in a northwesterly direction. After nine or so miles of riding the thick forest thins again; the trees further apart, the canopy less dense. It is another three miles to the site where the orcs were encountered. "It is good that we met the orcs here," she said, "for in the denser woods they are not bothered by sunlight, and when we fought here it was to our advantage. We most likely would have sustained losses had we fought them in the shade of the thicker trees."

The encounter site is obvious; there are a dozen orc bodies scattered about, laying where they had been cut down, already starting to swell with morbidity. "This is the extent of our far patrol," Valru tells the adventurers, "we are looking to expand our control of the land around Draea, and the Baron sends us out on a weekly basis to make sweeps of the land beyond our borders. In the past month we've encountered orcs in this general area three times; this was by far the largest band we have yet seen, numbering a score or more. We fought, they routed, and we tried to give chase, but they split up and went to ground. Our mounts are bred to carry our weight and not shy away from the smell of blood or the sound of steel, not for weaving through trees."