Dragonlance - Adventures during the Age of Despair

Lord_Raven88 · Jun 20, 2007

[Sblock=Eton Gritz]
For the last five years you have travelled around the outskirts of Northern Ansalon, hiding your powers and acting the part of a mercenary for hire. You have most recently spent time in Northern and Southern Ergoth as well as acting as a guard on a merchant ship that sails these waters.

Deciding that it was time for you to move on again you finished your contract and departed ship at the village of Portsmith [/sblock]
[sblock=Eric]
For the last few years you have been drifting aimlessly around the outskirts of Solamnia acting as a mercenary for hire, most recently you finished escorting a merchant taking his wares from the city of Garnet to the small port town of Portsmith and then on to Northern Ergoth. [/sblock]
[sblock=Jerol Marsek]
You have just finished travelling around the wilds of Northern Ergoth, following leads of various so called miracle men, while a few did indeed possess some small power, by far the majority of these ones were mere charlatans

Catching ship you now find yourself in the small port town of Portsmith. [/sblock]

Arriving in the small town of Portsmith you first impression is that of a town in on the verge of leaving it's squalid origins behind and taking it's place as somewhere of importance. Looking around at the small walled town it's easy to see that it's still struggling with it's new identity as a gateway to Solamnia and safe harbour for ships travelling from Ergoth.

While many of the building appear to have been hastily constructed, the walls, piers and warehouses seem to be another matter entirely. Built around a central town square the small town has many of the amenities of a much larger town but none of the sophistication.

Entering the town square you each notice that a large crowd has gathered to hear the words of bald headed zealot of the new and spreading Seeker faith.

Speaking passionately about the injustices of the Cataclysm where the old gods turned their backs on mankind in a spiteful rage. The speaker instead is encouraging all to accept a new truth, that mankind must not be tied to the whims of fickle deities who only choose to rewards those who slavishly adhere to their principles, instead man must accept a new great truth that of self-reliance, which can only be achieved by seeking the ultimate principles of truth.

According to the zealot magic in all it's forms must be shunned as magic are the chains that the old gods uses to enslave mankind, only by destroying magic can mankind learn to embrace his true inheritance. Freedom.

Velmont · Jun 20, 2007

[SBLOCK=OOC]Eton have the habit to cast Beguiling Influence and Entropic Warding just before going to bed and take some rest, as both effects have a duration of 24h, and in case of the drain from the magic, he is about to rest anyway.[/SBLOCK]

Great! Another cult, that's marvelous. Banned all magic, kill all wizards, turn upon the gods who have turned upon us. They sounds like too many enligthed guru I've heard... those are just annoying... too annoying to me. thinks Eton as he overhear a preacher that speak on the port to the new comers.

As he jump off the ship, he lands on a small gift left by some errant dog. Great He makes a few step and scrub his boots before stepping in a small puddle of sea water that stay still on the quay. He turns around and speaks to his captain.

"I'll leave you here, as we have dealt."

The captain nods and return to his cabin. Eton wait a moment and the captain comes back and throw him a small purse. "Your pay." Eton looks at the content. A steel and a few silvers. This was under the average cost for a guard, but he didn't dealt strongly as he was sick of all this sea travel and only wanted to come back to the continent. It seems even the creation of new islands and the opening of a new sea havn't help this captain in his business... anyway, since the Cataclysm, people prefered to stay in the town rather than travel the world. It has become too dangerous.

Eton enter the city and starts to look for an Inn. All he sees is the same desolation. Seeing the quality of the docks and the type of defence teh city has, it was obvious than a few decade ago this city was landlock. It must have been trying to adapt themselves to there new environment.

Eton surprised himself to think about what happen to the farmer than used to live in the lands that are now under water. Was they killed by a flood? Did they take refuge in this town just to end as a beggar? Did they left for another city? All that sounds just too great and impossible to Eton minds. How could a force shape like that the world. And if that force really exist, why people are ignoring it. Eton would at least respect it, but people want to forget.

Eton finally spot an Inn and enters it. "Goodday Innkeeper. How much for a night in your establishment?"

Lord_Raven88 · Jun 20, 2007

Velmont said:
[SBLOCK=OOC]Eton have the habit to cast Beguiling Influence and Entropic Warding just before going to bed and take some rest, as both effects have a duration of 24h, and in case of the drain from the magic, he is about to rest anyway.[/SBLOCK]Eton finally spot an Inn and enters it. "Goodday Innkeeper. How much for a night in your establishment?"

The gaunt looking innkeeper smiles insincerely at Eton as he approaches. As Eton speaks the Innkeepers bulging bloodshot eyes examines him, mentally calculating his worth. All the while his too large hands continue to rub themselves together.

His moist red tongue flicks out to wet his chapped lips before the Innkeeper speaks in a surprising bass voice. "Well now good sir do I have a good deal for you? For the pittance of five silver pieces not only with that buy you a room for the night but I'll throw in one of our famous gourmet meals and a pint of lager on the house. You won't get a finer deal than that in all of Portsmith young master"

Indeed the innkeepers offer does sound hard to beat especially since the only other Inn in Portsmith is decidedly more upmarket.

[sblock=OOC]Beguiling influence is fine to have working 24/7 but Entropic Warding has two problems that you need to consider.

Firstly it's not listed as having a 24 hour duration in Com Arcane PG134. So since it's based on the Entropic Shield spell we'll be using the duration for that spell to determine how long it last for (1 minute per level).

Secondly it's highly noticeable as the invocation states "Chaotic energies swirl around you deflecting incoming arrows, rays, and other ranged attacks" so this isn't something that you can hide once it's activated.[/sblock]

Velmont · Jun 20, 2007

[SBLOCK=OOC]Seems fine with me, anyway, Entropic Warding would be good to have 24 hours, but a lot less usefull than Beguling Influence.[/SBLOCK]

Eton quickly made some calculation. He would have just enough to live 4 days... he might not be able to find another job in this place in this short time. Sounds fair... as much fair as a man who try to drain as much silver as he can from a stranger. Let's deal for a fifth night in case he is unlucky, it will gives me a bit more chance to find something to do.

"It sounds too much for what you offer... I don't know how much time I'll be here, I might stay up to a week here before moving. Lower your price and I'll take my time here. What about the fifth night is free. Five silvers per night and the fifth is free if I stay for at least five days."

Land Outcast · Jun 20, 2007

The speaker is encouraging all to accept a new master, that mankind must be tied to the whims of fickle preachers who only choose to rewards those who slavishly adhere to their principles. Instead man must venerate and become dependant on new liars, which can only be achieved by paying your tithe and denouncing your neighbours.

Heard it before, and their speech remains as fresh as when it was launched into the world.

Unconsciously his hand drifted towards the pommel of his longsword...

I'd rather worship faraway gods than venerate the ground treaded by seekers

But he stopped the motion, perhaps this one was one of those fairly inoccuous speakers, and not one of the herders... Anyways, time would tell.
Eric wasn't planning on leaving anytime soon, this was one town he hadn't visited before, probably there was somethign for him here. There always was.

"On Solamnia's castles
ravens alight..."

He just barely noticed some asymmetric buildings and the building logs beside some houses, taking note of the way things were done here... seemed to differ little in craftmanship from a mercenary camp...

"dark and unnumbered
like a year of deaths..."

Walls seem strong, and the warehouses probably survive from before...
Services and stores at the center...
An inn...

[sblock=OOC]Which other buildings stand around the town square?[/sblock]

Kaodi · Jun 21, 2007

For a time, Jerol stops to listen to the preaching of the Seeker. The sermon is almost identical to those of similar zealots in his native Ergoth, but it presents another opportunity for him to contemplate the origin of his own abilities, which still comes as something of a mystery to him.

However, in his experience, it is never good to linger to long around such a crowd. Jerol moves through the crowd in search of a sign for lodging. After the journey by ship, he feels it will be good to sleep in a bed that does not rock back and forth all night with the waves.

Lord_Raven88 · Jun 21, 2007

Eton quickly made some calculation. He would have just enough to live 4 days... he might not be able to find another job in this place in this short time. Sounds fair... as much fair as a man who try to drain as much silver as he can from a stranger. Let's deal for a fifth night in case he is unlucky, it will gives me a bit more chance to find something to do.

"It sounds too much for what you offer... I don't know how much time I'll be here, I might stay up to a week here before moving. Lower your price and I'll take my time here. What about the fifth night is free. Five silvers per night and the fifth is free if I stay for at least five days."

Pausing to consider Eton's offer the innkeepers hands finally still their restless caress while his fat tongue continuing it's never ending job of moistening his chapped lips. Having completed his mental deliberations the innkeeper once again address Eton with mock sincerity

"You drive a hard bargain young master, but fair is fair as I always say. You've got yourself a deal assuming you don't mind paying up front" grinning in what he obviously considers a friendly fashion you can't help but noticed the yellowed discoloured teeth and inflamed diseased gums.

~~~~

As Eric pauses to listen to the ravings of the Zealot he notices two disconcerting things, firstly the crowd of listeners seem to be giving far to attention and credence to the mad zealots ravings and secondly Eric notices that he himself is being scrutinised by a boy of no more than 12 years old dressed in seeker robes, which in and of itself isn't unusual. But their is something slightly 'spooky' about the intensity of his blue eyed stare.

Breaking eye contact with the youth Eric fades into the crowd and continues his exploration of the small town. Strolling around the main square Eric notices that there is a small sized town hall, a general store and two inns. The first inn appears to be lavishly finished and is obviously a place for well paying customers, while the second inn (which is slightly off the main square) has a much more humble rough exterior.

~~~~

Spotting a humble looking inn situated slightly off the main square Jerol heads inside it's dark interior. Jerol notes that only a few of the tables are occupied at this early hour (11AM) and that the Innkeeper (a gaunt looking man) is engaged in conversation with a black haired, tanned mail clad man of below average height who carries himself with confidence and ease. Strangely while the man carries a compact crossbow on his back he doesn't seem to any other weapons that you can see.

Catching the tail end of the conversation it's obvious that the two have be haggling over the innkeepers services.

Land Outcast · Jun 22, 2007

You've got to be joking! A kid?!

One thing is to have a kid serving an army... this is quite different, and a lot creepier

Eric shrugs, staring at him or not, all anyone would notice would be a grizzled veteran of too-many-a-campaign with serious need to get a bath (along with his clothes).
Not that he was anything else beyond that, a decade and a half as a mercenary leaves its mark...

Therefore, ignoring the dissappearing boy, Eric directed his steps toward the "humble inn".
No reason to be alarmed... but he felt the hairs ont he back of his head starting to tingle.
No reason to be alarmed, seekers can't see thoughts... but that boy...

*shrug*

He considered himself something beyond a veteran lucky enough to see his hair starting to grey... he had been working for somethign greater than himself for the past five years. He hadn't opposed seekers... not directly at least, slavers and bandits fell under his blade (some of those bandits had a scary resemblance to seeker bodyguards).

An excellent opportunity to face these was the work as guard/bodyguard, never staying far too long anywhere, just enough to learn the peoples' problems and learn wether he could help them out. The better if he could grant his help in the name of the old gods, not that he belived in them, but it was the most he could do to push people against seekers.

After all, who were the ones hauling fuel into the fire that...

He decided to keep his thoughts to himself, those blue eyes could be staring...

"and dreamt on the battlements,
fixed and holy..."

Velmont · Jun 22, 2007

"Fine, I'll pay in advance, one night at a time." answers Eton. He pick up five silver out of his purse and put it on the table. "I'll take your gourmet meal now. Food on boats is too dried and salty, my stomach ask me for something better."

Eton walks to an empty table. He removes the crossbow of his back and put on the ground, leaning against the table. By habits, he put it at hand reach. He sits down and lay back on his seat. The fresh and salty air of the sea have tired him and he closes his eyes and rest for a moment, waiting for his food.

I think I'll take a day of break. Just relaxing, it will do me so much good. thinks Eton.

Land Outcast · Jun 22, 2007

Reconsidering, Eric sticks around to hear the preacher for some 10-15 minutes before going to the inn... curious on what in his speech is enthralling the populace, and to survey the area for armed forces.

Good thing to know where you're standing.