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The Ballad of Hal Whitewyrm
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<blockquote data-quote="Paka" data-source="post: 5686843" data-attributes="member: 100"><p><u><p style="text-align: center">Player:</p><p></u>“Vor, I am a bard, plain and simple. I have some skill with the sword, enough to watch my back and that of my beloved, but I am no martial champion. Upon first laying eyes on you I knew you were a seasoned warrior, a terror to fear with that warhammer of yours in hand. As I join your band, as we become brothers in the hunt, I want to know on whom I can depend to strike down any foes I cannot deal with. I speak to you now trying to ascertain what my gut tells me: that you are a warrior to trust in thick and thin, someone I can count on, someone to trust, even.</p><p></p><p>“I have heard some of your exploits; the minstrels sing songs and once you learn the names of the heroes you can start to put together who they are singing about. Songs of The Maul, She of the Hammer, have reached my ears before; I have no doubt they speak of you and your deeds. They are amazing to hear about, and I must be honest, I long to behold them myself so that I may also sing of thee one day.</p><p></p><p>“So what say you, soldier, mercenary of the land, are you this warrior my instinct tells me, one I can trust my back in battle, one I can count as an ally in our hunt for the Zhentarim?”</p><p></p><p><em>Let me know if you’d like a untrained Persuasion test to convey the honesty of my words.</em></p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">GM:</p><p></u><em>I’m not sure any rolls are necessary.</em></p><p></p><p>“Don’t say that aloud. Words like that carry and the Captain would have your head for saying it so plainly.</p><p></p><p>“Stop flattering me. There are no songs about me. I’m a foot soldier who managed to survive a life of a ground-pounder, plain and simple. I do nothing more than learn my trade. If I were a blacksmith and I went looking at the local forge or a farrier looking at the local horse-flesh no one would say a word but my trade is getting to where I’m needed with my hammer and driving enemies into rout, so suddenly its worthy of a song.</p><p></p><p>“Evil didn’t kill my brother, nor am I a priest of Tempus but you can trust me, Hal.”</p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">Player:</p><p></u>“Very well. What do you know of Blackhand? Why does he wear the mark of a thieves’ guild which was exterminated to its last member?”</p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">GM:</p><p></u>“You didn’t catch that? His brother was a member and when he came of age, he would’ve been a member too. The Blackhands messed with your old buddy among the Hunt’s quarry and he killed them to a man. Only reason why our boy was left alive is because he was too young to be considered a threat. He cried himself to sleep tonight and when I asked him why, he said that he was relieved to know how to avenge his brother and mad that the information was kept from him for so long.</p><p></p><p>“I have to take my time on watch on the barrel. I caught the shift from now ’till dawn. Anything else, Hal?”</p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">Player:</p><p></u>“No, that would be all, Vor. Have a good watch at the barrel.”</p><p></p><p>I start to walk away then turn.</p><p></p><p>“Actually, there is one more thing you could help me with. Tell me, is it true what they say about Cormyri wizards and why they all wear skirts?” I ask smiling mischievously, sure that I am outside the reach of a sudden punch.</p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">GM:</p><p></u>She shakes her head, blushes and runs back to the inn. Over her shoulder she says, “Is it true elven maidens sing songs when they are in bed?”</p><p></p><p><em>_I reckon there are two things to do before ending this chapter and heading out with the Hunt: Talk with your cousin (if you want to; you could also just leave) and see the tapestry. Anything else to do in Highmoon before leaving? What do you want to do first?</em></p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">Player:</p><p></u>“Aye, it’s true!” I shout back as she leaves.</p><p></p><p>Once she has left, I take a glance at the window from which she came out. I momentarily ponder climbing the wall and taking a peek, but decide not to push my luck for the night.</p><p></p><p>I walk by the Leaves of Learning on the way back to my cottage. Nethanel’s quarters are around the back and I peek to see if there is a candle on this late at night by any chance.</p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">GM:</p><p></u>His light is on and you can hear him at his lecture, reading out loud from a book about the God-Kings of Mulhorand.</p><p></p><p>“…noble courts were temples and thrones were altars. Dukes were priests and knights holy avengers. At the height of their power, prayers to other deities and miracles sent to those of other Faiths would not reach Faerun while in Mulhorand, as if their towers blocked all other divinities.”</p><p></p><p>He turns a page and sips some mint tea, not noticing you outside his window.</p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">Player:</p><p></u>“What exactly is your fascination with the Mulhorandi, cousin? I have heard of academic pursuits but you follow their trail like a soldier follows whores on the eve of battle!”</p><p></p><p>I climb in through his window, not letting him protest my presence or intrusion.</p><p></p><p>“We need to speak. I am sorry for the late hour and unorthodox manners, but I have little time. I come to tell you that, in the morrow, I ride north with The Hunt, I’m sure you’ve heard of them. I know you will be heartbroken that I won’t be accompanying you, as that means you will need new hirelings, but the opportunity came to fulfill an oath made long before the one I made to you earlier today.</p><p></p><p>“Now listen to me well, please, and put all enmity you bear me aside for one moment. Should you and your band find yourselves in trouble while in the Cormanthor, please seek refuge at this stone I mark here on your map. Do you understand?”</p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">GM:</p><p></u>He sighs.</p><p></p><p>“If things go poorly for me, you wish me to meet you at the Standing Stone…the stone erected by the elves to note that the humans could settle the hills and valleys of the Dalelands?</p><p></p><p>“Where will you meet if things do not go well for you, cousin? Feh, don’t answer.</p><p></p><p>“Of course you won’t be joining me and of course you are insulted that I asked you to work you way up and did not hand you the world on an elven platter because you have Whitewyrm blood and orange eyes. Of course you won’t be keeping your oath, as you are your mother’s son.</p><p></p><p>“Did you know that your mother and my father adventured together? True, true. She took her younger brother away from Highmoon the night after his wedding to my mother and despite her oath to return him to my mother just as she took him, he returned to Deepingdale a shattered husk of a man. Maybe its for the best we never adventured together. The traditions of our family’s expeditions is not exactly the stuff if your bard’s tales.</p><p></p><p>“Be careful out there, cousin. We are the last of our family in the world and I know your human name holds little romance for you, it does mean something to me. Good night.”</p><p></p><p>He closes the book, putting it beneath the lecturn and snuffs a candle, leaving you in the dark to find your own way out.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><u>Player:</u></p><p>“Ah, my dear cousin, perhaps one day you will understand that my human blood is as important to me as my elven one. I pray the gods allow us to meet again in health to let that be clear to us both.</p><p></p><p>“You bear my love and my good wishes on your journey. Fare thee well.”</p><p></p><p>Finally, it is time to head home to Nasharel. And to that tapestry I ransomed the world to purchase.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Paka, post: 5686843, member: 100"] [U][CENTER]Player:[/CENTER][/U] “Vor, I am a bard, plain and simple. I have some skill with the sword, enough to watch my back and that of my beloved, but I am no martial champion. Upon first laying eyes on you I knew you were a seasoned warrior, a terror to fear with that warhammer of yours in hand. As I join your band, as we become brothers in the hunt, I want to know on whom I can depend to strike down any foes I cannot deal with. I speak to you now trying to ascertain what my gut tells me: that you are a warrior to trust in thick and thin, someone I can count on, someone to trust, even. “I have heard some of your exploits; the minstrels sing songs and once you learn the names of the heroes you can start to put together who they are singing about. Songs of The Maul, She of the Hammer, have reached my ears before; I have no doubt they speak of you and your deeds. They are amazing to hear about, and I must be honest, I long to behold them myself so that I may also sing of thee one day. “So what say you, soldier, mercenary of the land, are you this warrior my instinct tells me, one I can trust my back in battle, one I can count as an ally in our hunt for the Zhentarim?” [I]Let me know if you’d like a untrained Persuasion test to convey the honesty of my words.[/I] [U][CENTER]GM:[/CENTER][/U] [I]I’m not sure any rolls are necessary.[/I] “Don’t say that aloud. Words like that carry and the Captain would have your head for saying it so plainly. “Stop flattering me. There are no songs about me. I’m a foot soldier who managed to survive a life of a ground-pounder, plain and simple. I do nothing more than learn my trade. If I were a blacksmith and I went looking at the local forge or a farrier looking at the local horse-flesh no one would say a word but my trade is getting to where I’m needed with my hammer and driving enemies into rout, so suddenly its worthy of a song. “Evil didn’t kill my brother, nor am I a priest of Tempus but you can trust me, Hal.” [U][CENTER]Player:[/CENTER][/U] “Very well. What do you know of Blackhand? Why does he wear the mark of a thieves’ guild which was exterminated to its last member?” [U][CENTER]GM:[/CENTER][/U] “You didn’t catch that? His brother was a member and when he came of age, he would’ve been a member too. The Blackhands messed with your old buddy among the Hunt’s quarry and he killed them to a man. Only reason why our boy was left alive is because he was too young to be considered a threat. He cried himself to sleep tonight and when I asked him why, he said that he was relieved to know how to avenge his brother and mad that the information was kept from him for so long. “I have to take my time on watch on the barrel. I caught the shift from now ’till dawn. Anything else, Hal?” [U][CENTER]Player:[/CENTER][/U] “No, that would be all, Vor. Have a good watch at the barrel.” I start to walk away then turn. “Actually, there is one more thing you could help me with. Tell me, is it true what they say about Cormyri wizards and why they all wear skirts?” I ask smiling mischievously, sure that I am outside the reach of a sudden punch. [U][CENTER]GM:[/CENTER][/U] She shakes her head, blushes and runs back to the inn. Over her shoulder she says, “Is it true elven maidens sing songs when they are in bed?” [I]_I reckon there are two things to do before ending this chapter and heading out with the Hunt: Talk with your cousin (if you want to; you could also just leave) and see the tapestry. Anything else to do in Highmoon before leaving? What do you want to do first?[/I] [U][CENTER]Player:[/CENTER][/U] “Aye, it’s true!” I shout back as she leaves. Once she has left, I take a glance at the window from which she came out. I momentarily ponder climbing the wall and taking a peek, but decide not to push my luck for the night. I walk by the Leaves of Learning on the way back to my cottage. Nethanel’s quarters are around the back and I peek to see if there is a candle on this late at night by any chance. [U][CENTER]GM:[/CENTER][/U] His light is on and you can hear him at his lecture, reading out loud from a book about the God-Kings of Mulhorand. “…noble courts were temples and thrones were altars. Dukes were priests and knights holy avengers. At the height of their power, prayers to other deities and miracles sent to those of other Faiths would not reach Faerun while in Mulhorand, as if their towers blocked all other divinities.” He turns a page and sips some mint tea, not noticing you outside his window. [U][CENTER]Player:[/CENTER][/U] “What exactly is your fascination with the Mulhorandi, cousin? I have heard of academic pursuits but you follow their trail like a soldier follows whores on the eve of battle!” I climb in through his window, not letting him protest my presence or intrusion. “We need to speak. I am sorry for the late hour and unorthodox manners, but I have little time. I come to tell you that, in the morrow, I ride north with The Hunt, I’m sure you’ve heard of them. I know you will be heartbroken that I won’t be accompanying you, as that means you will need new hirelings, but the opportunity came to fulfill an oath made long before the one I made to you earlier today. “Now listen to me well, please, and put all enmity you bear me aside for one moment. Should you and your band find yourselves in trouble while in the Cormanthor, please seek refuge at this stone I mark here on your map. Do you understand?” [U][CENTER]GM:[/CENTER][/U] He sighs. “If things go poorly for me, you wish me to meet you at the Standing Stone…the stone erected by the elves to note that the humans could settle the hills and valleys of the Dalelands? “Where will you meet if things do not go well for you, cousin? Feh, don’t answer. “Of course you won’t be joining me and of course you are insulted that I asked you to work you way up and did not hand you the world on an elven platter because you have Whitewyrm blood and orange eyes. Of course you won’t be keeping your oath, as you are your mother’s son. “Did you know that your mother and my father adventured together? True, true. She took her younger brother away from Highmoon the night after his wedding to my mother and despite her oath to return him to my mother just as she took him, he returned to Deepingdale a shattered husk of a man. Maybe its for the best we never adventured together. The traditions of our family’s expeditions is not exactly the stuff if your bard’s tales. “Be careful out there, cousin. We are the last of our family in the world and I know your human name holds little romance for you, it does mean something to me. Good night.” He closes the book, putting it beneath the lecturn and snuffs a candle, leaving you in the dark to find your own way out. [CENTER][U]Player:[/U][/CENTER] “Ah, my dear cousin, perhaps one day you will understand that my human blood is as important to me as my elven one. I pray the gods allow us to meet again in health to let that be clear to us both. “You bear my love and my good wishes on your journey. Fare thee well.” Finally, it is time to head home to Nasharel. And to that tapestry I ransomed the world to purchase. [/QUOTE]
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