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The Risen Goddess (Updated 3.10.08)
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<blockquote data-quote="(contact)" data-source="post: 1111" data-attributes="member: 41"><p><strong>13-- For great justice! Let fly every propagandist!</strong></p><p></p><p>The party is sitting in a local adventurer's watering hole when it happens. They have struck up a friendship with several Northern barbarians and learned the following: Ishlokian war ships began landing along the coast last year, and they have established a base North of Ratik, from which they have made war against the Frutzii clans who live there.</p><p></p><p>Further, the Ishlokians have allied themselves with the Baron of Knurl, who is the father of Lady Evaliegh, Ratik's leader and Baroness. The Ishlokians are a mystery to the people of Ratik, but they claim to follow Pholtus of the Blinding Light. Their exact relationship with the Theocracy of the Pale is unknown, but they seem properly rigid and closed-minded enough to please Pholtus.</p><p></p><p>As the group is enjoying a meal and a pint, the bar around them suddenly grows quiet. Looking up, the heroes spot a brace of armed guards entering the place. "We are looking for these men," the guard captain says, holding up a portrait of the five heroes. Indy slides under the table, and sneaks away.</p><p></p><p>Killing a brace of Ishlokians is one thing, but attacking honest guards who are merely executing their duty is another. The group stands and surrenders without a fight. Indy remains hidden, and manages to slip out of the inn. He frantically tries to think of some way to free his fellows, and follows them to the prisons, but can find no opening.</p><p></p><p>He <em>charms</em> a local guard captain, and discovers that his four friends are to be tried on charges of Unwarranted Use of Magical Force, Assault of a Nobleman by a Commoner, and Base Murder. If they are found guilty, they will be executed, and their possessions taken into the treasury of Ratik, as befits political criminals.</p><p></p><p>But Indy is not defeated quite yet. He composes a stirring revolutionary tract, accusing the Baroness Evaliegh of conspiring to frame adventurers for crimes they did not commit, in order to take their magic items from them.</p><p></p><p>Indy's logic: Most adventurers don't give a whit about politics, but tell them someone wants to steal their magic, and they will scream for blood. Indy begins posting his seditious tracts in every location frequented by adventurers, and starts a general outcry to "Free the Ratik Four". He befriends a group of bards, and asks them to spread the heroic tale of the Ratik Four and their betrayal at the hands of the power-mad Baroness.</p><p></p><p>Being a revolutionary is even more romantic than being a pirate.</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em>Metagame note: At this point, Indy purchased a rank in Profession (Revolutionary). The DM thought he should buy ranks in Profession (Rabble Rousing), but that's just sour grapes. He's just bitter that Indy crafted such a powerful and compelling public opinion movement. </em></li> </ul><p></p><p>Indy's next step is to retain the services of a barrister. A man possessed of a razor-sharp mind and impeccable reputation. Er, at least one who is willing to work pro-bono (Indy's treasure was confiscated along with his friends' <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /> . He manages to sweet-talk a gnomish barrister by the name of Cocrane into taking the case. Cocrane begins work on a legal defense that will leverage popular opinion, point out how handsome Thelbar is at every opportunity, and string together a spurious chain of legal loopholes and long-forgotten precedent. Indy loves it.</p><p></p><p>Four days later, Indy is arrested while buying fruit at the market.</p><p></p><p>He is unceremoniously dumped into a cell with his companions, and he excitedly brings them up to speed on the airtight defense, well . . . the <em>creative</em> defense that Cocrane is putting together for them. After Thelbar is restrained from throttling the elven rogue, and Kyreel's breathing resumes its normal course, Taran smacks Indy on the back of his head, and calls him an idiot. Indy comments that it is a shame how quickly counter-revolutionary indoctrination can happen in prison.</p><p></p><p>The group is called before the Lady Evaliegh to be given an opportunity to confess their crimes. Cocrane is present, and insists that his clients remain silent, preferring instead to answer all of the Lady's questions himself. Thelbar almost has to be restrained again, but manages to gather his composure.</p><p></p><p>Indy stares slack-jawed at the Lady for the duration of the questioning. She is devastatingly beautiful, a true noblewoman in bearing, well spoken, and obviously extremely intelligent. Indy fancies that she shares several private glances with him, confirming his suddenly growing belief that the two of them are in love, tragic lovers separated by a cruel political divide neither of them can overcome. Oh, the humanity.</p><p></p><p>Cocrane, ever the clever barrister, invokes an ancient legal provision that allows political prisoners to be judged by the Council of Northern Lords--the entire assembly of leaders East of Tenh. Gathering the assembly will take weeks, if not months, buying the party time. More importantly, the group will be judged by Lords who may oppose Ishlokian involvement in Evaliegh's court. </p><p></p><p>The party has nothing to occupy their time until the trial, as even games of chance are forbidden in the Ratik prisons. Taran baits the guards, trying to start a fight, but the rest of the group merely sits silently, lost in their own thoughts. Rex wonders aloud what his Grandmother would think if she could see him now.</p><p></p><p>At the trial, the group stares down a trio of black-robed Ishlokians, one of whom they recognize. </p><p></p><p>"Hey, your burns healed pretty fast, baldy -- you look like an ugly map of Tenh," Taran says before Cocrane can hush him to silence.</p><p> </p><p>When the defendants are introduced, the name "Tar-Ilou" provokes the only reaction from the black-robed trio the courtroom would see during the whole trial. It is hard to say whether the Ishlokians were scared, startled or just surprised, but one thing is for sure--Taran and Thelbar's family name is known to them.</p><p></p><p>The trial is a 'Northman's Court' with only the noblemen in the room allowed to ask questions. Cocrane, as the barrister, is allowed to answer for the defendants wherever he deems necessary. The trial is brief, and after an afternoon's deliberation, the Lord's Council delivers the following verdict: The defendants are sentenced to five years in a labor camp, at the end of which time they are to be turned over to the Baron of Knurl for execution.</p><p></p><p>It is a message-verdict, sent from Evaliegh to her father-in-law. He will have his revenge, but not at his leisure. It seems she is taking this opportunity to remind him who is Lady in Ratik. The verdict also highlights another political schism. The Lords of the area are deeply divided about the 'alliance' the Baron of Knurl has made with the outsiders. </p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em>Metagame Note: "Outsider" is the name the locals have given the Ishlokians, there is no implication of outer-planar origin within this use of the phrase. </em></li> </ul><p></p><p>The night after the trial, as the party is discussing the implications of the sentence, their cell doors are unlocked and opened. A masked man (or woman) says, "I am here to free you. Follow me and be quiet. I am taking you out through a secret passage. Move."</p><p></p><p>Just like that, the heroes are drinking in the nighttime air, and examining their gear, all intact and strapped to horses. Indy gloats that his revolutionary movement must have long arms, but Thelbar thinks that this is the work of one of the Northern Lords. Likely one of the Lords hates the Ishlokians as much as the party does, and determined to blunt the interest the Ishlokians had in seeing the party dead. It might even be Evaliegh. </p><p></p><p>Amongst the gear, the group finds their map of the area, with additional writing on it in Isenthanian Proper*. There is a site marked 'outsider camp', not too far from Marner. More outsiders! But are they Ishlokian, or are they like the party? Will they have some answers to this mystery of memory?</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em>*Isenthanian Proper is the foreign language the party speaks. It is a derivate of Old Ishlokian, the language spoken by the black robed rat-bastards.</em></li> </ul></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="(contact), post: 1111, member: 41"] [b]13-- For great justice! Let fly every propagandist![/b] The party is sitting in a local adventurer's watering hole when it happens. They have struck up a friendship with several Northern barbarians and learned the following: Ishlokian war ships began landing along the coast last year, and they have established a base North of Ratik, from which they have made war against the Frutzii clans who live there. Further, the Ishlokians have allied themselves with the Baron of Knurl, who is the father of Lady Evaliegh, Ratik's leader and Baroness. The Ishlokians are a mystery to the people of Ratik, but they claim to follow Pholtus of the Blinding Light. Their exact relationship with the Theocracy of the Pale is unknown, but they seem properly rigid and closed-minded enough to please Pholtus. As the group is enjoying a meal and a pint, the bar around them suddenly grows quiet. Looking up, the heroes spot a brace of armed guards entering the place. "We are looking for these men," the guard captain says, holding up a portrait of the five heroes. Indy slides under the table, and sneaks away. Killing a brace of Ishlokians is one thing, but attacking honest guards who are merely executing their duty is another. The group stands and surrenders without a fight. Indy remains hidden, and manages to slip out of the inn. He frantically tries to think of some way to free his fellows, and follows them to the prisons, but can find no opening. He [i]charms[/i] a local guard captain, and discovers that his four friends are to be tried on charges of Unwarranted Use of Magical Force, Assault of a Nobleman by a Commoner, and Base Murder. If they are found guilty, they will be executed, and their possessions taken into the treasury of Ratik, as befits political criminals. But Indy is not defeated quite yet. He composes a stirring revolutionary tract, accusing the Baroness Evaliegh of conspiring to frame adventurers for crimes they did not commit, in order to take their magic items from them. Indy's logic: Most adventurers don't give a whit about politics, but tell them someone wants to steal their magic, and they will scream for blood. Indy begins posting his seditious tracts in every location frequented by adventurers, and starts a general outcry to "Free the Ratik Four". He befriends a group of bards, and asks them to spread the heroic tale of the Ratik Four and their betrayal at the hands of the power-mad Baroness. Being a revolutionary is even more romantic than being a pirate. [list][i]Metagame note: At this point, Indy purchased a rank in Profession (Revolutionary). The DM thought he should buy ranks in Profession (Rabble Rousing), but that's just sour grapes. He's just bitter that Indy crafted such a powerful and compelling public opinion movement. [/i][/list] Indy's next step is to retain the services of a barrister. A man possessed of a razor-sharp mind and impeccable reputation. Er, at least one who is willing to work pro-bono (Indy's treasure was confiscated along with his friends' ;) . He manages to sweet-talk a gnomish barrister by the name of Cocrane into taking the case. Cocrane begins work on a legal defense that will leverage popular opinion, point out how handsome Thelbar is at every opportunity, and string together a spurious chain of legal loopholes and long-forgotten precedent. Indy loves it. Four days later, Indy is arrested while buying fruit at the market. He is unceremoniously dumped into a cell with his companions, and he excitedly brings them up to speed on the airtight defense, well . . . the [i]creative[/i] defense that Cocrane is putting together for them. After Thelbar is restrained from throttling the elven rogue, and Kyreel's breathing resumes its normal course, Taran smacks Indy on the back of his head, and calls him an idiot. Indy comments that it is a shame how quickly counter-revolutionary indoctrination can happen in prison. The group is called before the Lady Evaliegh to be given an opportunity to confess their crimes. Cocrane is present, and insists that his clients remain silent, preferring instead to answer all of the Lady's questions himself. Thelbar almost has to be restrained again, but manages to gather his composure. Indy stares slack-jawed at the Lady for the duration of the questioning. She is devastatingly beautiful, a true noblewoman in bearing, well spoken, and obviously extremely intelligent. Indy fancies that she shares several private glances with him, confirming his suddenly growing belief that the two of them are in love, tragic lovers separated by a cruel political divide neither of them can overcome. Oh, the humanity. Cocrane, ever the clever barrister, invokes an ancient legal provision that allows political prisoners to be judged by the Council of Northern Lords--the entire assembly of leaders East of Tenh. Gathering the assembly will take weeks, if not months, buying the party time. More importantly, the group will be judged by Lords who may oppose Ishlokian involvement in Evaliegh's court. The party has nothing to occupy their time until the trial, as even games of chance are forbidden in the Ratik prisons. Taran baits the guards, trying to start a fight, but the rest of the group merely sits silently, lost in their own thoughts. Rex wonders aloud what his Grandmother would think if she could see him now. At the trial, the group stares down a trio of black-robed Ishlokians, one of whom they recognize. "Hey, your burns healed pretty fast, baldy -- you look like an ugly map of Tenh," Taran says before Cocrane can hush him to silence. When the defendants are introduced, the name "Tar-Ilou" provokes the only reaction from the black-robed trio the courtroom would see during the whole trial. It is hard to say whether the Ishlokians were scared, startled or just surprised, but one thing is for sure--Taran and Thelbar's family name is known to them. The trial is a 'Northman's Court' with only the noblemen in the room allowed to ask questions. Cocrane, as the barrister, is allowed to answer for the defendants wherever he deems necessary. The trial is brief, and after an afternoon's deliberation, the Lord's Council delivers the following verdict: The defendants are sentenced to five years in a labor camp, at the end of which time they are to be turned over to the Baron of Knurl for execution. It is a message-verdict, sent from Evaliegh to her father-in-law. He will have his revenge, but not at his leisure. It seems she is taking this opportunity to remind him who is Lady in Ratik. The verdict also highlights another political schism. The Lords of the area are deeply divided about the 'alliance' the Baron of Knurl has made with the outsiders. [list][i]Metagame Note: "Outsider" is the name the locals have given the Ishlokians, there is no implication of outer-planar origin within this use of the phrase. [/i][/list] The night after the trial, as the party is discussing the implications of the sentence, their cell doors are unlocked and opened. A masked man (or woman) says, "I am here to free you. Follow me and be quiet. I am taking you out through a secret passage. Move." Just like that, the heroes are drinking in the nighttime air, and examining their gear, all intact and strapped to horses. Indy gloats that his revolutionary movement must have long arms, but Thelbar thinks that this is the work of one of the Northern Lords. Likely one of the Lords hates the Ishlokians as much as the party does, and determined to blunt the interest the Ishlokians had in seeing the party dead. It might even be Evaliegh. Amongst the gear, the group finds their map of the area, with additional writing on it in Isenthanian Proper*. There is a site marked 'outsider camp', not too far from Marner. More outsiders! But are they Ishlokian, or are they like the party? Will they have some answers to this mystery of memory? [list][i]*Isenthanian Proper is the foreign language the party speaks. It is a derivate of Old Ishlokian, the language spoken by the black robed rat-bastards.[/i][/list] [/QUOTE]
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