Adventure: Three Queens in Allaria (DM: BenBrown, Judge: Covaithe)

BenBrown · Feb 25, 2012

Tenchuu said:
Spider follows along.

OOC: My googling/searching has failed. I didn't know themes existed until today, and I assume they are now allowed in L4e? Is there a page that outlines the rules here.

OOC:

There's been a couple of threads about themes. Here's the proposal thread. I can take 'em or leave 'em, personally, but I wanted to be sure everyone's on the same level.

Mewness · Feb 26, 2012

OOC:

Pharodeys has one but I wouldn't use it unless it was cool with the other players anyway (it involves my making die rolls in advance for another character; if you really hate the sound of that and don't want me to do it to you, tell me so).

bluesfella · Feb 29, 2012

BenBrown said:
GM: By the way, I've noticed that Tyris and Zardi have large amounts of cash lying around. If you want to equip up before the adventure starts in earnest, please feel free to do so.

OOC:

Good idea - I picked up a set of Acrobat's Boots and an Everburning Torch. Thanks!

VanderLegion · Feb 29, 2012

VanderLegion said:
OOC: Would Garrote Strangle be considered a grab attack for the purposes of Wrestler's Gloves (+1 bonus to grab attacks)?

OOC:

Anyone know the answer to that (Guess I could always go ask in the discussion thread...). If it works, I'll pick those up, otherwise I'll save the cash for later

BenBrown · Mar 1, 2012

Mallaby leads the group down to the harbor, and out on to a pier where an elderly, but sturdy looking ship is tied up. A bemused looking ox is being hoisted aboard via a crane, and several of its fellows mill about on the dock. Sailors not involved in the hoisting watch the process stoically. Writing along the gunwales near the front of the ship proclaim its name to be Calm Digger.

Seeing Mallaby arrive, a young man approaches, wearing a new-looking helmet on his head and bearing a large crossbow slung across his back.

"Ah, Master Sven," Mallaby says. He turns to those who have been following him. "This is Master Sven, who is in charge of the wagons for this expedition. Master Sven, is everything ready?"

"Yes, Lord Mallaby!" Sven replies cheerfully. "The supplies are loaded on board, and there is plenty of space for them, so it didn't take much ingenuity to pack them in tightly, but that's no excuse for sloppiness, and I know sailors like to have their cargo tied down securely in case of storms. They're in with the ship's supplies for the voyage, which if we aren't delayed should be enough to get us to Allaria and them back without having to buy anything there. The drivers on board helping with the oxen, which, as you can see, are being loaded now. We're all ready to go!"

"Good, good. Ah, here comes the captain now. Captain Gadus, is all in readiness?"

A balding, bearded, barefooted man approaches, rolling gently with a sailor's walk.

"Aye," he says. "Tide's high in an hour, then we cast off." He looks over the assembled party, appraising them, but reveals no signs of any conclusions he comes to.

"Then may my friends come aboard?" Mallaby asks.

"Aye," the captain says again.

"Then, my friends, I wish you good luck on your voyage. Master Sven, keep the wagons well. Master Sarak, Master Zardi, Master Tyris, and you, Master Sound of Stone, I know I can trust you to keep everything and everyone safe." He hands his rolled up map and a thick envelope to Spider. "This is a letter for Ismene, which I put into your capable hands. I, alas, will not be accompanying you, but I will follow on when I can, with more supplies. Again, good luck to you all, and may the blessings of the gods go with you."

Mallaby turns and heads back down the dock, to where a carriage has pulled up. Behind gauzy curtains a shapely feminine form is half-visible in the looming twilight.

"Well," says Sven, "Let's get on the ship. I'll show you where things are."

OOC:

Sorry about the delay.

BenBrown · Mar 2, 2012

The passenger quarters--such as they are--have a somewhat low ceiling, but are roomy enough otherwise although there's very little light and the place smells distinctly of fish. The crew is efficient, and as the tide turns, the ship moves away from the pier and out into the harbor.

The voyage is as uneventful as sea voyages in the shifting seas ever are. While the vessel is being used for transport rather than fishing, the crew still watches the waters for signs of a plentiful catch, and a few long lines are tossed over the stern, which come up with a nice selection of medium-sized game fish, which the ship's cook turns into a pleasantly steaming and tasteful chowder.

The voyage takes no more than a few weeks, and the Calm Digger soon approaches the harbor of Ristaren on the coast of Allaria. The ship steers cautiously into the port, and after a short conversation between the captain and the pilot, is allowed to pull up to the quay. Ristaren is a small port, on the edge of prosperity. As the crew begins unloading the cargo and hoisting the oxen out of the hold, everyone else is able to go ashore.

An exquisitely carved marble statue of a beautiful woman stands incongruously at the edge of the quay.

bluesfella · Mar 2, 2012

Zardi steps out onto dry land, and looks around him. He briefly considers kissing the ground, as he doesn't particularly like sea travel, but quickly puts that notion to rest.

It would be unbecoming, he thinks, for a Goliath of his stature to expose such a "weakness" like that. Instead, he mutters something indistinct about "preffering the stability of his mountan home" and wanders off to look at the statue.

rb780nm · Mar 2, 2012

Sound of Stone is clearly overjoyed to be back on stable ground. Clattering his mandibles, he leaps after Zardi.

Mewness · Mar 2, 2012

The statue is made in the style of the old Imperium. The figure is life-size, beautiful in an old-fashioned way, with a long but very straight nose, a high, smallish bosom, a slightly plump figure, and long, wavy hair. She is wearing a light corselet and holding a small, ceremonial spear.

As Zardi approaches, the statue turns its head and regards him with a serene expression.

[sblock=Pharodeys]Pharodeys Female Human Living Statue Shaman 3
Initiative: +0, Passive Perception: 20, Passive Insight: 20, Senses: Normal
AC:18, Fort:14, Reflex:15, Will:16; Resist 5 psychic
HP:36/36, Bloodied:18, Surge Value:9, Surges left:9/9
Action Points: 1
:bmelee:

totemic javelin +4 vs. AC; 1d6+1 damage
:branged:

totemic javelin +4 vs. AC; 1d6+1 damage
Call Spirit Companion, Spirit’s Wrath, Spirit Infusion, Word of Battle
[o] Scorching Sands
[o] Sly Fox Spirit
[o] Dimensional Scramble
[o] Cast Fortune
[o] Shard Swarm
[o] Speak with Spirits
[o] [o] Healing Spirit
[o] Second Wind
[o] Spirit of the Healing Flood
[o] Spirit of the Great Cat
[o] Skald’s Armor Daily

Conditions:

Full sheet: Pharodeys[/sblock]