Deuce Traveler
Adventurer
A original DnD (BECMI) campaign mixed with City-State of the Invincible Overlord (CSIO) and Wilderlands of High Fantasy (HOHF)
The Cast:
Lola (Queenie)
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Name: Lola
Class: Thief
Level: 3
HP: 7
AC: 8
Strength: 14
Intelligence: 14
Wisdom: 13
Dexterity: 13
Constitution: 8
Charisma: 16
Saving Throws
Poison or Death Ray: 13
Magic Wands: 14
Paralyzation or Turn to Stone: 13
Dragon Breath: 16
Rods/Staffs/Spells: 15 (14 vs Spells)
Weapons: 2 Sharpened Silver Fans (1d4 each)
Armor: None, Silk Green Veils outfit
Equipment: Thieves' Tools, Ruby Pendant, 2x five foot length of green cloth, 42gp in belt pouch, Potion of Cure Serious Wounds (Neb's Mending, 400xp), 553gp in large sack
At Home: Nothing
Languages: Common, Thieves Cant, (One other)
XP: 3,457
Skills:
Open Locks: 25%
Find Traps: 20%
Remove Traps: 20%
Climb Walls: 89%
Move Silently: 30%
Hide in Shadows: 20%
Pick Pockets: 30%
Hear Noise: 40%
Background: As a baby, Lola was left at the city orphanage, having been abandoned by her parents for reasons revealed only to the head mistress. She was a good child, and pretty, but every time she was considered for adoption the potential parents would leave the Mistress's office and then the orphanage without her. Over the years she was disappointed many times until hope just faded from her heart. She grew into a feisty teen, often running off and getting in trouble before being dragged back. Eventually at the age of 16 she left the orphanage and never returned.
She spent the next year living on the streets, learning how to get by. She drifted from place to place picking up unsavory skills, using her looks and charms to get out of trouble if caught. But stealing wasn't doing the job and she was often hungry and homeless. At 17 she was approached by the madam of the Naughty Nanny, who saw through the dirt and grime to her pretty looks and offered her a position there, knowing she could fetch a good price. The thought of food every night, a roof over her head, a nice room and clothes was very appealing at this point so she agreed. She quickly learned how easy it was to steal from the rich nobles and merchants who were her clients.
Six months after she started working there she met Roland Van der Vass, a handsome noble from a known and influential family, who took a liking to her. She had mostly turned off her feelings, it was important to survive this job, but Roland treated her better than any of the other inconsiderate customers she entertained. At first it took some time of longing glances before he figured out how to obtain her. After that he came to her often, frequently paying for the entire night, sometimes bringing her fancy meals or gifts, occasionally all he wanted to do the entire night was talk or sleep. It was difficult for her to keep her emotions and heart to herself; he was the only person in her life to ever really show her consideration.
One fateful night Roland was not her first customer, another noble came to her earlier in the evening. He was drunk and rough and Lola demanded him to leave. This angered him and not being used to told no, he decided to take what he wanted anyway. She tried to fend off his brutal attack but was unsuccessful. Roland had come for her that evening and when he approached her room heard her struggle. He broke down the door and seeing her so treated so badly he impulsively blasted the noble with a spell. The man turned to Roland and drew his sword but before he could attack him Lola ran her dagger through his heart and killed him. Roland quickly comforted her and without discussion he replaced her dagger with his own, taking the responsibility for the murder.
After that she didn't see him for almost two long, tortuous months. He had a trial which she heard about from other customers at the whorehouse. She was afraid she would never see him again, that he regretted his actions, that he hated her or blamed her, especially after hearing he was cast out from his family. But one night he did come to her and though he couldn't pay for her she lied to the mistress so she could see him. He professed his feelings for her, told her he wanted a future with her in it, and begged her to leave the Naughty Nanny, that it was no longer the place for her. She stiffened at talk of the future and while she didn't want to say no, she told him she needed time to think and would let him know the next day. He gave her an address where to meet him the next day.
It didn't take Lola long to know the right thing to do. He cared about her and though his feelings for her terrified her, she didn't want to lose him. She went to the Madam who was not happy with Lola leaving but she gave her no choice. She quickly packed up some of the dresses that didn't really belong to her and a few other little trinkets she had collected and hurried off into the night to find Rovan. He was surprised but very happy to see her that night and he spent the night speaking of plans of them always being together and working together to bring him back to the status he was used to, and the wealth he wanted to share with her. Lola didn't care, she just wanted to be by his side, money or not.
And so, their adventuring career would begin.
DM's Note: Lola has just recently left the Naughty Nannies, and so therefore has not yet built up a second occupation and skill set. She is adapt at understanding men and women, and knows how to turn the desires of a man she converses with against him. She can both charm and frustrate. She has an equal understanding towards women, but in a different way. Lola can taunt women into a frenzy with a look and a few choice words. She is talented at pulling information from fellow commoners in order to discover rumors. Her training at the Naughty Nannies involves being a masseuse among other abilities that need little imagination. Since the Naughty Nannies were not completely a legitimate business, Lola also learned how to forge city documents, such as inspection and registration forms. Her writing skills are considerable and near Rovan's own. Because of this and some kind of unknown latent talent, she can try to read magic scrolls, both divine and arcane, although at her level of experience there is a great chance that she may cause more harm than good.
Recently she has picked up the ability to perform several dances.
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Rovan the Mage (Fenris)
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Name: Rovan the Mage
Class: Magic-User
Level: 2
HP: 12
AC: 8
Strength: 9
Intelligence: 14
Wisdom: 13
Dexterity: 15
Constitution: 18
Charisma: 11
Saving Throws
Poison or Death Ray: 13
Magic Wands: 14
Paralyzation or Turn to Stone: 13
Dragon Breath: 16
Rods/Staffs/Spells: 15
Weapons: Throwing Dagger in sash, 6x Lead Balls (1d3 each, 20 ft range)
Armor: None, wearing black clothing and mask
Equipment: 40gp in belt pouch, Spellbook, In a large sack: 604gp, 3sp, 9cp
At Home: Nothing
Buried in Yard: Human head in a sack
Languages: Common, <one more>
Spellbook:
1st level- Read Magic, Detect Magic, Sleep, Magic Missile, Read Languages
Memorized Spells:
1st level (3 from spellbook/day)- Sleep x2, Magic Missile
XP: 3,410
Background: Roland Van der Vess was a young noble from the well know Van der Vess family. Roland grew up in the luxury and indulgence that being a noble brings. Good breeding and a love of exercise lead Roland to being very fit and healthy, he never got sick. He grew up learning all the things a good noble does, how to ride, how to behave in proper society, which fork to use and so on. But he was smart and took to his lessons well and studied maps and old stories. He wasn’t as strong as his older brother, Tristan who was a squire and then a knight. But young Roland was bright and was sent off to the famed Overlord's School of Ancient Knowledge to learn to be a magic user. Rovan proved to be fairly adept at magic and learned well.
In his off time he liked to wander the city, spending freely on drinks and women. That was how he met Lola. She was one of the most beautiful women Roland had ever met and was quickly smitten with her. He didn’t care that she worked at the Naughty Nannie. She was beautiful and he desired her. Like man nobles in the city, he was used to getting what he wanted. He came to see her quite often, but was always unlucky enough to not get there early enough before she was claimed. When he finally got his chance with her he treated her so well, with kindness and tenderness that it confused Lola and made her heart a little less hard.
So it was that the saw each other as they could, their relationship and feelings for each other growing slowly, until one night Roland came looking for Lola and heard screams coming from behind her door. He opened it to find another young noble viciously beating Lola. Roland snapped and cast a spell which struck the noble. Enraged, the other noble threw Lola to the side, drew his sword and raised it to strike Roland. A most curious look crossed his face however before he fell to the floor, a dagger sticking from his back, and Lola staring at him from where the noble fell. That mutual act of defense, Roland saving Lola from a severe beating that may have killed her, and Lola stabbing the noble to save Roland showed the other the depth of their feelings for each other.
The screams drew a crowd though and Roland quickly drew out Lola’s dagger and replaced it with one of his own, in the noble’s chest. There was a brief investigation during which the local magistrate was bribed and the killing ruled self-defense. The young man though was Chalan Hofran, and his family swore vengeance on Roland for his death, ruling or no ruling. Partly to save face and protect themselves polictically and partly to punish Roland for defending a whore, his family disowned him, casting him out onto the street.
Bereft of family, Roland changed his name since he could no longer use his family name. He took part of his last name and first name and combined them to make Rovan. Rovan the Mage. His skills as a magician were modest, but sufficient that his old masters at Overlord’s were willing to employ him for various tasks. Helping in the laboratories, classrooms and running errands. His friends, all nobles of course, turned their backs on him when he plummeted from social status and wealth. He sought out Lola, he could no longer afford her services but found that his act of saving her, of protecting her so moved her that she didn’t care that he had lost his title and money. Here was a person who was not shallow and cared about him. Who loved him for who he was. Roland convinced Lola to leave the Naughty Nanny and join him. For Roland was still a noble by birth and he enjoyed the wealth and power he had had.
He had a plan. To survive the streets, to gain wealth and power anyway they could and to rise up and reclaim his place. But not among his family. In spite of his family. He would create his own title, his own power. He just needed a few friends to help him along the way.
DM's Notes: Unlike the other PCs, Rovan has a large vocabulary and finds reading quite easy. He is also talented in speaking in specific dialects and can speak languages accurately even when he is not completely familiar with the words. His education has allowed him skill in lore, so he is better able to identify the origins of both magical items along with domestic and foreign works of art. Rovan can easily mingle among aristocracy if need be due to his noble heritage, and still has an ear to some of the recent political intrigue.
Rovan has recently learned juggling and how to throw odd items.
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Edvan Chelwhistle (GlassEye)
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Name: Edvan Chelwhistle
Class: Fighter
Level: 2
HP: 13 (roll 1d8-1)
AC: 1
Strength: 13
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 12
Dexterity: 16
Constitution: 7
Charisma: 12
Saving Throws
Poison or Death Ray: 12
Magic Wands: 13
Paralyzation or Turn to Stone: 14
Dragon Breath: 15
Rods/Staffs/Spells: 16
Weapons: Rapier (decoration, -1 to attack and damage with chance of breaking), Hand-axe
Armor: Banded Mail, Shield
Equipment: Cavalry Officer Clothing, 49gp in belt pouch, In a large sack: 610gp, 2sp, 5cp
At Home: Nothing
Languages: Common
XP: 3,395
Edvan's family were yeomanry and displaced by the fighting, retreated to the city, and eventually succumbed to an outbreak of illness. This left him alone in the city with a slender connection to the local guard because of his father's status. They throw him an odd job once in a while, either for errands or to provide security for material coming in from the docks. But he mostly survives by playing the fipple flute in whatever tavern will pay him with a hot meal & a spot by the fire. He's not stupid but he's not the brightest by any means. He has a chronic cough, related to the illness that killed the rest of his family, which also caused damage to his lungs, and accounts for his lower constitution. He wears his father's coat (a bit too large & decorative braid and brass buttons long sold for whatever coin they could bring), and has three hand-axes tucked into his belt.
Rovan has been teaching Edvan how to read and write lately, as Edvan is a curious sort with a considerable imagination. The two practice over cups at their favorite bar, which unsurprisingly doesn't help the lessons.
DM's Notes: Edvan knows about soldiering. He can recognize small and seige weapons and is familiar with their purposes, as it was a skill he learned from his father. He gets along instinctively with professional soldiers and militia, is a welcome face in most bars since he has provided entertainment or augmented protection for cheap (during call-ups because of occasional riots), and has a strong ear for music, song, and tales.
Edvan has recently learned to ride a horse and about general cavalry tactics.
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Hilmdyn Stoneheart (garyh)
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Name: Hilmdyn Stoneheart
Class: Cleric
Level: 3
HP: 12 (1d6-1)
AC: 4
Strength: 15
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 15
Dexterity: 8
Constitution: 8
Charisma: 15
Saving Throws
Poison or Death Ray: 11
Magic Wands: 12
Paralyzation or Turn to Stone: 14
Dragon Breath: 16
Rods/Staffs/Spells: 15 (14 vs Spells)
Weapons: Warhammer
Armor: Banded Mail, Shield, Upper Class Clothing
Equipment: Silver Holy Symbol of Mhal (underneath shirt), 49gp in belt pouch, In a large sack: 605gp, 2cp,
At Home:
Languages: Common
Deity: Mhal, god of stone
XP: 3,401
Turn Undead (2d6)
Skeleton: T
Zombie: T
Ghoul: 7
Wight: 9
Wraith: 11
Spells (3 from list a day): Cure Light Wounds, Cause Lights Wounds, Detect Evil, Detect Magic, Light, Darkness, Protection from Evil, Purify Food and Water, Remove Fear, Fear, Resist Cold
Prepared Spell: 3x Cure Light Wounds
Background: History: Hilmdyn hales from the small frontier village of Hlymadle, over 100 miles from the City-State, and well outside its protection. Despite a childhood disease that sapped his stamina, Hilmdyn is very strong, and that combined with his common sense and force of personality, lead him to be an apprentice shaman for his village. A year ago, his village was under assualt from a death-worshipping cleric and his rough band of orcs and humans, and Hilmdyn was sent to the City-State to find aid. He found none, and now he's been drawn into the City-State, and does not know how his tribe has fared in his absence. Hilmdyn had been staying in the stables of the Tripping Trident Tavern, stretching the meager copper he had come to the City-State with as far as he could. When that ran out, though, he was forced to agree to stay on at the Trident as a laborer and occassional bouncer to keep a roof over his head and some small amount of food in his belly.
DM's Notes: Hilmdyn has picked up a number of skills at his young age. He learned how about mines and how to track veins of ore by his early teenage years. During his time in Hilmdyn he also found that his strength was an asset in trying to find work, and he has labored as a dock worker at the harbor, and bouncer and stableboy at the Tripping Trident. He learned the value of coin during this time, as well as public speaking. Hilmdyn has developed a knack for conversation, and he is adapt at haggling for prices as well as moving people to passionate outrage with his rhetoric. He hopes to use this ability to one day influence the people of the City-State to send a force in order to liberate his people.
Because of their similar occupations, the first close friend he has made thus far is Edvan, who plays dice with him for copper at the Tripping Trident Tavern at least once a week. He smirks at Edvan's attempts to learn how to read, however. He finds letters uninteresting, though he does have deep appreciation for the power of words through speech.
Hilmdyn recently learned about the properties of copper and bronze, and how to work copper at a smithy.
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Quinn (Scott DeWar)
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Name: Quinn Setmore
Class: Fighter
Level: 2
HP: 17
AC: 7
Strength: 13
Intelligence: 11
Wisdom: 15
Dexterity: 5
Constitution: 16
Charisma: 13
Saving Throws
Poison or Death Ray: 12
Magic Wands: 13
Paralyzation or Turn to Stone: 14
Dragon Breath: 15
Rods/Staffs/Spells: 16 (15 vs Spells)
Weapons: Rapier
Armor: Chain Mail, Eyepatch (not needed), Scarlet Upper Class Clothing
Equipment: pegleg with dagger shaped hollow spot: 60 gp, silvered dagger: 30 gp inside pegleg, 45gp, 3cp, 2sp in belt pouch, In a large sack: 456gp
At Home: None
Languages: Common
XP: 2,550
Background: Quinn recently arrived from sailing the high seas with the Botany Bay.
He lost the leg in an on-board incident during a bad storm, which was the cause of a mast falling and crushing his leg. He was given a pegleg to replace the lost one. Because he has not been able to regain his 'sea legs' as yet, he has decided to try his luck on land. Hopefully he will get use to his peg leg with the stability of 'terra firma' and maybe someday return to his true mistriss, the sea.
His weapons are those of a sailor: cutlass, dagger, club/belaying pin.
His dress is still that of a sailor as well as his appearence...bronze skin, long haired tied in back, bandana on his head.
His 3-day stubble gives him a ruggedly hadsome appearence, while his smell of salty spray seems clean compared to the staled sweat of the city dwellers. The 3 point hat on his head gets tipped as a curtesy to ladies. He prefers to keep sober as that would very well lead worse walking troubles then what he has now.
He was from the Botany Bay, having been the victim of one of the 'wierd accidents' that befell the ship while transporting the witch's head. The ship and captain left him on the shore to further recover though he felt he was still hexed and was seeking out the party to help him deal with the 'curse'...
DM's Note: As Quinn has been a sea-dog for so long, he has insight into navigation and the sea. He is able to guide himself by the stars, recognize good sailing weather, and when the seas themselves are favorable. He was one of the crew who begged Bear of the Botany Bay to have the cursed package thrown overboard. He had a sense that something was 'wrong' with the package. Whether or not this was superstition or a developing 'sixth sense' has yet to be seen...
Quinn has recently learned about local ports and their imports/exports, as well as become an amateur authority on wine.
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Story So Far:
Chapter 1: Blood and Betrayals- The four defeated the sorcerer Tretchner, and freed his servant Lu Su. The party found a decapitated head (which Rovan kept), a ruby (which Lola sold), and have blown most of their gold within the week.
Chapter 2: Poison and Providence- Where the four find out when of their number is going to have a very bad couple of days. Lola was captured and placed on a sacrificial altar by a group of serpent-worshipping cultists.
Chapter 3: Blood and Betrayals- The group is nicknamed the Wilders at this point due to their night life tendencies and spendthrift ways. An ambush gone bad leads to the death of members from the thieves' and beggars' guilds. Afterwards the Wilders come away with jewels and potions while their ally, Erin, walks away with a gem called the Eye of the Serpent. His intentions are distrusted, though he leaves amicably.
Chapter 4: The Guild and the Girl- A missing girl's father asks the Wilders' to avenge her suspected death in return for a prior favor, which leads them to Liar Mukang and the Pleasure Dome.
Intro:
"Know My Lord, that in the time of the Dread Klipmaran there lay the Dark Jewel of the North, the City-State of the Overlord. From the Jewel's heart sprung a band whose adventures will leave you sleepless, for none have ever shook the earth as they. A few saw them as nothing more than brigands that Luck smiled upon. Some saw them as dangerous demagogues, shaking the important foundations of kings and clergy. But many during this dark time saw them as champions who grasped the throat of Destiny and forced themselves upon the Fates."
The Adventure Begins:
The four were in the Tripping Trident Tavern as the sun's last sliver slipped underneath the delapitated buildings, casting an orange glow over the otherwise gray city-scape. Business was slow in the tavern, as it was everywhere in the City of late. Flags of various vessels were hung up on the wooden walls along with other paraphinilia of mariners. Most trophies came from ships that were lost, their crew able to save a flag or ship's wheel before the sea claimed the vessel. Some flags were from famous enemy ships that were defeated or merchant vessels from foreign cities that were taken by force. A very select few ships so honored had long lives and their rotted hulls were taken apart to use as firewood before the ship sunk because of its ancient age, while the crew moved to a more worthy vessel. The walls and trophy stands therefore served as both tombstones and memorials, and as such the Tripping Trident always attracted sailors from around the known world. This evening it was nearly empty except for the bartender, Magloc, and a spattering of regulars.
Rovan and Lola sat at a badly-chipped, wooden table while finishing off the last of a bottle of cheap wine and discussed where they might afford to sleep. Edvan and Hilmdyn played dice on the floor nearby with their own meager pocket change. The foursome traded sharp, yet familiar banter seemlessly, Rovan needling Hilmdyn over his poor grammar and choice of profanities as the priest lost a round, then answered a question from Lola. Edvan briefly returned the remark with a flex of his muscular arm and a dig at Lola over her poor choice in scrawny men before taking his turn at a toss. All four secretly harbored similar concerns from one another. The money had about run out, business for all of them had been poor, and the only part of the future that was certain to them were their comrades.
And that's when their luck changed. Hilmdyn was the first to recognize Slug, the obese second-mate of the Botany Bay. Slug was covered in sweat and wheezing, evidently from half-running from the docks to the bar. He ordered two shots and slapped coin in front of a surprised Magloc, then downed the drinks as fast as they were put in front of him. He caught his breath, wiped his brow with a dirty rag, and caught Hilmdyn's stare. He half-stumbled to the foursome, and upon recognizing them said "Hilmdyn! Ah, and you have your companions. Rovan, it is, isn't it? You do courier work for wizards at times still, don't you? Very good! Very good! I've come for help. We need a package delivered. Well, we need it off the ship. The thing is, none of us want to touch the evil thing. Are you in need of coin? We will pay a few coin... as much as we can afford, but the wizard that is waiting for the thing, he'll pay more I am sure! Please come!"
Slug's state roused the group's curiosity, though they barely understood the man's babbling. Still, he spoke of coin, which was all the foursome needed. They half-followed, were half-pulled along as the man talked incomprehensively of jungles and witchcraft and death.
They walked through the gauntlet that was Beggar's Street, carefully avoiding the urchins that were more deft at impeding the way than the elderly. Onto Murky Street, where the few City lanterns were fewer and the moist streets were always populated by leeches that squelched underfoot. Finally onto Water-Rat Road, whose small shops carried trinkets brought in from the docks and in whose alleys less decent trades were plied. At the end of the road were the docks, and there bobbing gently onto the water was the Botany Bay. Edvan and Hilmdyn had often worked for the ship's crew, unloading cargo and the like, and they could see she was worse for wear. The sails were ripped as if by high winds and part of the deck was burnt from some recent fire. The crew had a haunted look and did not speak as the foursome walked up the plank and onboard the vessel, even to acknowledge Lola's lithe presence. Very strange behavior for sailors. Slug took them to the guest's quarters where a guard with a trident was posted outside and the ship's captain and a corpse waited within.
Captain "Bear" Slane was a man living up to his sea name, large with an unkempt brown beard growing gray in spots. He nodded as the group entered and said, "Slug here went to find some folks who are willing to do an odd job. And so here you are. Do you recognize this man," he asked pointing to the corpse.
It lay on a bed, a large and powerful yet middle-aged warrior. His face was marked with the numerous scars of an experienced fighter, but contorted as if the last moments of his life were spent in pain. His eyes were bulged and fixed onto a nearby dresser on which rested a large, brown package in paper and tie while his hands clutched his chest by his heart.
"This is Max Gottlein, a mercenary who has worked for a sorcerer named Tretchner for as long as I can recall. Old Max here used to come to our sloop with coin, would hire us to drop him off somewhere and wait, then we would return him. We would try to pick up merchandise along the way, but the trip is usually just profitable with the coin Max brings. Well Max didn't quite make it on this trip. Looks like he had a heart attack. Since we are planning to shove off very soon we were hoping that someone would take yonder package he brought back and bring it to ol' Tretchner. I'd be willing to pay a couple of gold coins to each of you, but Tretchner used to pay Max quite a nice amount for his work and I'm sure ye'd get much more from that bugger. We'd do it ourselves, but ye see most of my crew here is a superstitious lot and have no desire to touch the package since it was Max's when he died and all." He did his best to smile at the group reassuringly, but it was obvious that there was fear behind Bear's tone and the rings around his eyes spoke of a man who had not slept in a very long time. Slug waited for the party's decision while mopping sweat once more from his receding hairline with a dirty rag.
The Cast:
Lola (Queenie)
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Name: Lola
Class: Thief
Level: 3
HP: 7
AC: 8
Strength: 14
Intelligence: 14
Wisdom: 13
Dexterity: 13
Constitution: 8
Charisma: 16
Saving Throws
Poison or Death Ray: 13
Magic Wands: 14
Paralyzation or Turn to Stone: 13
Dragon Breath: 16
Rods/Staffs/Spells: 15 (14 vs Spells)
Weapons: 2 Sharpened Silver Fans (1d4 each)
Armor: None, Silk Green Veils outfit
Equipment: Thieves' Tools, Ruby Pendant, 2x five foot length of green cloth, 42gp in belt pouch, Potion of Cure Serious Wounds (Neb's Mending, 400xp), 553gp in large sack
At Home: Nothing
Languages: Common, Thieves Cant, (One other)
XP: 3,457
Skills:
Open Locks: 25%
Find Traps: 20%
Remove Traps: 20%
Climb Walls: 89%
Move Silently: 30%
Hide in Shadows: 20%
Pick Pockets: 30%
Hear Noise: 40%
Background: As a baby, Lola was left at the city orphanage, having been abandoned by her parents for reasons revealed only to the head mistress. She was a good child, and pretty, but every time she was considered for adoption the potential parents would leave the Mistress's office and then the orphanage without her. Over the years she was disappointed many times until hope just faded from her heart. She grew into a feisty teen, often running off and getting in trouble before being dragged back. Eventually at the age of 16 she left the orphanage and never returned.
She spent the next year living on the streets, learning how to get by. She drifted from place to place picking up unsavory skills, using her looks and charms to get out of trouble if caught. But stealing wasn't doing the job and she was often hungry and homeless. At 17 she was approached by the madam of the Naughty Nanny, who saw through the dirt and grime to her pretty looks and offered her a position there, knowing she could fetch a good price. The thought of food every night, a roof over her head, a nice room and clothes was very appealing at this point so she agreed. She quickly learned how easy it was to steal from the rich nobles and merchants who were her clients.
Six months after she started working there she met Roland Van der Vass, a handsome noble from a known and influential family, who took a liking to her. She had mostly turned off her feelings, it was important to survive this job, but Roland treated her better than any of the other inconsiderate customers she entertained. At first it took some time of longing glances before he figured out how to obtain her. After that he came to her often, frequently paying for the entire night, sometimes bringing her fancy meals or gifts, occasionally all he wanted to do the entire night was talk or sleep. It was difficult for her to keep her emotions and heart to herself; he was the only person in her life to ever really show her consideration.
One fateful night Roland was not her first customer, another noble came to her earlier in the evening. He was drunk and rough and Lola demanded him to leave. This angered him and not being used to told no, he decided to take what he wanted anyway. She tried to fend off his brutal attack but was unsuccessful. Roland had come for her that evening and when he approached her room heard her struggle. He broke down the door and seeing her so treated so badly he impulsively blasted the noble with a spell. The man turned to Roland and drew his sword but before he could attack him Lola ran her dagger through his heart and killed him. Roland quickly comforted her and without discussion he replaced her dagger with his own, taking the responsibility for the murder.
After that she didn't see him for almost two long, tortuous months. He had a trial which she heard about from other customers at the whorehouse. She was afraid she would never see him again, that he regretted his actions, that he hated her or blamed her, especially after hearing he was cast out from his family. But one night he did come to her and though he couldn't pay for her she lied to the mistress so she could see him. He professed his feelings for her, told her he wanted a future with her in it, and begged her to leave the Naughty Nanny, that it was no longer the place for her. She stiffened at talk of the future and while she didn't want to say no, she told him she needed time to think and would let him know the next day. He gave her an address where to meet him the next day.
It didn't take Lola long to know the right thing to do. He cared about her and though his feelings for her terrified her, she didn't want to lose him. She went to the Madam who was not happy with Lola leaving but she gave her no choice. She quickly packed up some of the dresses that didn't really belong to her and a few other little trinkets she had collected and hurried off into the night to find Rovan. He was surprised but very happy to see her that night and he spent the night speaking of plans of them always being together and working together to bring him back to the status he was used to, and the wealth he wanted to share with her. Lola didn't care, she just wanted to be by his side, money or not.
And so, their adventuring career would begin.
DM's Note: Lola has just recently left the Naughty Nannies, and so therefore has not yet built up a second occupation and skill set. She is adapt at understanding men and women, and knows how to turn the desires of a man she converses with against him. She can both charm and frustrate. She has an equal understanding towards women, but in a different way. Lola can taunt women into a frenzy with a look and a few choice words. She is talented at pulling information from fellow commoners in order to discover rumors. Her training at the Naughty Nannies involves being a masseuse among other abilities that need little imagination. Since the Naughty Nannies were not completely a legitimate business, Lola also learned how to forge city documents, such as inspection and registration forms. Her writing skills are considerable and near Rovan's own. Because of this and some kind of unknown latent talent, she can try to read magic scrolls, both divine and arcane, although at her level of experience there is a great chance that she may cause more harm than good.
Recently she has picked up the ability to perform several dances.
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Rovan the Mage (Fenris)
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Name: Rovan the Mage
Class: Magic-User
Level: 2
HP: 12
AC: 8
Strength: 9
Intelligence: 14
Wisdom: 13
Dexterity: 15
Constitution: 18
Charisma: 11
Saving Throws
Poison or Death Ray: 13
Magic Wands: 14
Paralyzation or Turn to Stone: 13
Dragon Breath: 16
Rods/Staffs/Spells: 15
Weapons: Throwing Dagger in sash, 6x Lead Balls (1d3 each, 20 ft range)
Armor: None, wearing black clothing and mask
Equipment: 40gp in belt pouch, Spellbook, In a large sack: 604gp, 3sp, 9cp
At Home: Nothing
Buried in Yard: Human head in a sack
Languages: Common, <one more>
Spellbook:
1st level- Read Magic, Detect Magic, Sleep, Magic Missile, Read Languages
Memorized Spells:
1st level (3 from spellbook/day)- Sleep x2, Magic Missile
XP: 3,410
Background: Roland Van der Vess was a young noble from the well know Van der Vess family. Roland grew up in the luxury and indulgence that being a noble brings. Good breeding and a love of exercise lead Roland to being very fit and healthy, he never got sick. He grew up learning all the things a good noble does, how to ride, how to behave in proper society, which fork to use and so on. But he was smart and took to his lessons well and studied maps and old stories. He wasn’t as strong as his older brother, Tristan who was a squire and then a knight. But young Roland was bright and was sent off to the famed Overlord's School of Ancient Knowledge to learn to be a magic user. Rovan proved to be fairly adept at magic and learned well.
In his off time he liked to wander the city, spending freely on drinks and women. That was how he met Lola. She was one of the most beautiful women Roland had ever met and was quickly smitten with her. He didn’t care that she worked at the Naughty Nannie. She was beautiful and he desired her. Like man nobles in the city, he was used to getting what he wanted. He came to see her quite often, but was always unlucky enough to not get there early enough before she was claimed. When he finally got his chance with her he treated her so well, with kindness and tenderness that it confused Lola and made her heart a little less hard.
So it was that the saw each other as they could, their relationship and feelings for each other growing slowly, until one night Roland came looking for Lola and heard screams coming from behind her door. He opened it to find another young noble viciously beating Lola. Roland snapped and cast a spell which struck the noble. Enraged, the other noble threw Lola to the side, drew his sword and raised it to strike Roland. A most curious look crossed his face however before he fell to the floor, a dagger sticking from his back, and Lola staring at him from where the noble fell. That mutual act of defense, Roland saving Lola from a severe beating that may have killed her, and Lola stabbing the noble to save Roland showed the other the depth of their feelings for each other.
The screams drew a crowd though and Roland quickly drew out Lola’s dagger and replaced it with one of his own, in the noble’s chest. There was a brief investigation during which the local magistrate was bribed and the killing ruled self-defense. The young man though was Chalan Hofran, and his family swore vengeance on Roland for his death, ruling or no ruling. Partly to save face and protect themselves polictically and partly to punish Roland for defending a whore, his family disowned him, casting him out onto the street.
Bereft of family, Roland changed his name since he could no longer use his family name. He took part of his last name and first name and combined them to make Rovan. Rovan the Mage. His skills as a magician were modest, but sufficient that his old masters at Overlord’s were willing to employ him for various tasks. Helping in the laboratories, classrooms and running errands. His friends, all nobles of course, turned their backs on him when he plummeted from social status and wealth. He sought out Lola, he could no longer afford her services but found that his act of saving her, of protecting her so moved her that she didn’t care that he had lost his title and money. Here was a person who was not shallow and cared about him. Who loved him for who he was. Roland convinced Lola to leave the Naughty Nanny and join him. For Roland was still a noble by birth and he enjoyed the wealth and power he had had.
He had a plan. To survive the streets, to gain wealth and power anyway they could and to rise up and reclaim his place. But not among his family. In spite of his family. He would create his own title, his own power. He just needed a few friends to help him along the way.
DM's Notes: Unlike the other PCs, Rovan has a large vocabulary and finds reading quite easy. He is also talented in speaking in specific dialects and can speak languages accurately even when he is not completely familiar with the words. His education has allowed him skill in lore, so he is better able to identify the origins of both magical items along with domestic and foreign works of art. Rovan can easily mingle among aristocracy if need be due to his noble heritage, and still has an ear to some of the recent political intrigue.
Rovan has recently learned juggling and how to throw odd items.
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Edvan Chelwhistle (GlassEye)
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Name: Edvan Chelwhistle
Class: Fighter
Level: 2
HP: 13 (roll 1d8-1)
AC: 1
Strength: 13
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 12
Dexterity: 16
Constitution: 7
Charisma: 12
Saving Throws
Poison or Death Ray: 12
Magic Wands: 13
Paralyzation or Turn to Stone: 14
Dragon Breath: 15
Rods/Staffs/Spells: 16
Weapons: Rapier (decoration, -1 to attack and damage with chance of breaking), Hand-axe
Armor: Banded Mail, Shield
Equipment: Cavalry Officer Clothing, 49gp in belt pouch, In a large sack: 610gp, 2sp, 5cp
At Home: Nothing
Languages: Common
XP: 3,395
Edvan's family were yeomanry and displaced by the fighting, retreated to the city, and eventually succumbed to an outbreak of illness. This left him alone in the city with a slender connection to the local guard because of his father's status. They throw him an odd job once in a while, either for errands or to provide security for material coming in from the docks. But he mostly survives by playing the fipple flute in whatever tavern will pay him with a hot meal & a spot by the fire. He's not stupid but he's not the brightest by any means. He has a chronic cough, related to the illness that killed the rest of his family, which also caused damage to his lungs, and accounts for his lower constitution. He wears his father's coat (a bit too large & decorative braid and brass buttons long sold for whatever coin they could bring), and has three hand-axes tucked into his belt.
Rovan has been teaching Edvan how to read and write lately, as Edvan is a curious sort with a considerable imagination. The two practice over cups at their favorite bar, which unsurprisingly doesn't help the lessons.
DM's Notes: Edvan knows about soldiering. He can recognize small and seige weapons and is familiar with their purposes, as it was a skill he learned from his father. He gets along instinctively with professional soldiers and militia, is a welcome face in most bars since he has provided entertainment or augmented protection for cheap (during call-ups because of occasional riots), and has a strong ear for music, song, and tales.
Edvan has recently learned to ride a horse and about general cavalry tactics.
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Hilmdyn Stoneheart (garyh)
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Name: Hilmdyn Stoneheart
Class: Cleric
Level: 3
HP: 12 (1d6-1)
AC: 4
Strength: 15
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 15
Dexterity: 8
Constitution: 8
Charisma: 15
Saving Throws
Poison or Death Ray: 11
Magic Wands: 12
Paralyzation or Turn to Stone: 14
Dragon Breath: 16
Rods/Staffs/Spells: 15 (14 vs Spells)
Weapons: Warhammer
Armor: Banded Mail, Shield, Upper Class Clothing
Equipment: Silver Holy Symbol of Mhal (underneath shirt), 49gp in belt pouch, In a large sack: 605gp, 2cp,
At Home:
Languages: Common
Deity: Mhal, god of stone
XP: 3,401
Turn Undead (2d6)
Skeleton: T
Zombie: T
Ghoul: 7
Wight: 9
Wraith: 11
Spells (3 from list a day): Cure Light Wounds, Cause Lights Wounds, Detect Evil, Detect Magic, Light, Darkness, Protection from Evil, Purify Food and Water, Remove Fear, Fear, Resist Cold
Prepared Spell: 3x Cure Light Wounds
Background: History: Hilmdyn hales from the small frontier village of Hlymadle, over 100 miles from the City-State, and well outside its protection. Despite a childhood disease that sapped his stamina, Hilmdyn is very strong, and that combined with his common sense and force of personality, lead him to be an apprentice shaman for his village. A year ago, his village was under assualt from a death-worshipping cleric and his rough band of orcs and humans, and Hilmdyn was sent to the City-State to find aid. He found none, and now he's been drawn into the City-State, and does not know how his tribe has fared in his absence. Hilmdyn had been staying in the stables of the Tripping Trident Tavern, stretching the meager copper he had come to the City-State with as far as he could. When that ran out, though, he was forced to agree to stay on at the Trident as a laborer and occassional bouncer to keep a roof over his head and some small amount of food in his belly.
DM's Notes: Hilmdyn has picked up a number of skills at his young age. He learned how about mines and how to track veins of ore by his early teenage years. During his time in Hilmdyn he also found that his strength was an asset in trying to find work, and he has labored as a dock worker at the harbor, and bouncer and stableboy at the Tripping Trident. He learned the value of coin during this time, as well as public speaking. Hilmdyn has developed a knack for conversation, and he is adapt at haggling for prices as well as moving people to passionate outrage with his rhetoric. He hopes to use this ability to one day influence the people of the City-State to send a force in order to liberate his people.
Because of their similar occupations, the first close friend he has made thus far is Edvan, who plays dice with him for copper at the Tripping Trident Tavern at least once a week. He smirks at Edvan's attempts to learn how to read, however. He finds letters uninteresting, though he does have deep appreciation for the power of words through speech.
Hilmdyn recently learned about the properties of copper and bronze, and how to work copper at a smithy.
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Quinn (Scott DeWar)
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Name: Quinn Setmore
Class: Fighter
Level: 2
HP: 17
AC: 7
Strength: 13
Intelligence: 11
Wisdom: 15
Dexterity: 5
Constitution: 16
Charisma: 13
Saving Throws
Poison or Death Ray: 12
Magic Wands: 13
Paralyzation or Turn to Stone: 14
Dragon Breath: 15
Rods/Staffs/Spells: 16 (15 vs Spells)
Weapons: Rapier
Armor: Chain Mail, Eyepatch (not needed), Scarlet Upper Class Clothing
Equipment: pegleg with dagger shaped hollow spot: 60 gp, silvered dagger: 30 gp inside pegleg, 45gp, 3cp, 2sp in belt pouch, In a large sack: 456gp
At Home: None
Languages: Common
XP: 2,550
Background: Quinn recently arrived from sailing the high seas with the Botany Bay.
He lost the leg in an on-board incident during a bad storm, which was the cause of a mast falling and crushing his leg. He was given a pegleg to replace the lost one. Because he has not been able to regain his 'sea legs' as yet, he has decided to try his luck on land. Hopefully he will get use to his peg leg with the stability of 'terra firma' and maybe someday return to his true mistriss, the sea.
His weapons are those of a sailor: cutlass, dagger, club/belaying pin.
His dress is still that of a sailor as well as his appearence...bronze skin, long haired tied in back, bandana on his head.
His 3-day stubble gives him a ruggedly hadsome appearence, while his smell of salty spray seems clean compared to the staled sweat of the city dwellers. The 3 point hat on his head gets tipped as a curtesy to ladies. He prefers to keep sober as that would very well lead worse walking troubles then what he has now.
He was from the Botany Bay, having been the victim of one of the 'wierd accidents' that befell the ship while transporting the witch's head. The ship and captain left him on the shore to further recover though he felt he was still hexed and was seeking out the party to help him deal with the 'curse'...
DM's Note: As Quinn has been a sea-dog for so long, he has insight into navigation and the sea. He is able to guide himself by the stars, recognize good sailing weather, and when the seas themselves are favorable. He was one of the crew who begged Bear of the Botany Bay to have the cursed package thrown overboard. He had a sense that something was 'wrong' with the package. Whether or not this was superstition or a developing 'sixth sense' has yet to be seen...
Quinn has recently learned about local ports and their imports/exports, as well as become an amateur authority on wine.
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Story So Far:
Chapter 1: Blood and Betrayals- The four defeated the sorcerer Tretchner, and freed his servant Lu Su. The party found a decapitated head (which Rovan kept), a ruby (which Lola sold), and have blown most of their gold within the week.
Chapter 2: Poison and Providence- Where the four find out when of their number is going to have a very bad couple of days. Lola was captured and placed on a sacrificial altar by a group of serpent-worshipping cultists.
Chapter 3: Blood and Betrayals- The group is nicknamed the Wilders at this point due to their night life tendencies and spendthrift ways. An ambush gone bad leads to the death of members from the thieves' and beggars' guilds. Afterwards the Wilders come away with jewels and potions while their ally, Erin, walks away with a gem called the Eye of the Serpent. His intentions are distrusted, though he leaves amicably.
Chapter 4: The Guild and the Girl- A missing girl's father asks the Wilders' to avenge her suspected death in return for a prior favor, which leads them to Liar Mukang and the Pleasure Dome.
Intro:
"Know My Lord, that in the time of the Dread Klipmaran there lay the Dark Jewel of the North, the City-State of the Overlord. From the Jewel's heart sprung a band whose adventures will leave you sleepless, for none have ever shook the earth as they. A few saw them as nothing more than brigands that Luck smiled upon. Some saw them as dangerous demagogues, shaking the important foundations of kings and clergy. But many during this dark time saw them as champions who grasped the throat of Destiny and forced themselves upon the Fates."
The Adventure Begins:
The four were in the Tripping Trident Tavern as the sun's last sliver slipped underneath the delapitated buildings, casting an orange glow over the otherwise gray city-scape. Business was slow in the tavern, as it was everywhere in the City of late. Flags of various vessels were hung up on the wooden walls along with other paraphinilia of mariners. Most trophies came from ships that were lost, their crew able to save a flag or ship's wheel before the sea claimed the vessel. Some flags were from famous enemy ships that were defeated or merchant vessels from foreign cities that were taken by force. A very select few ships so honored had long lives and their rotted hulls were taken apart to use as firewood before the ship sunk because of its ancient age, while the crew moved to a more worthy vessel. The walls and trophy stands therefore served as both tombstones and memorials, and as such the Tripping Trident always attracted sailors from around the known world. This evening it was nearly empty except for the bartender, Magloc, and a spattering of regulars.
Rovan and Lola sat at a badly-chipped, wooden table while finishing off the last of a bottle of cheap wine and discussed where they might afford to sleep. Edvan and Hilmdyn played dice on the floor nearby with their own meager pocket change. The foursome traded sharp, yet familiar banter seemlessly, Rovan needling Hilmdyn over his poor grammar and choice of profanities as the priest lost a round, then answered a question from Lola. Edvan briefly returned the remark with a flex of his muscular arm and a dig at Lola over her poor choice in scrawny men before taking his turn at a toss. All four secretly harbored similar concerns from one another. The money had about run out, business for all of them had been poor, and the only part of the future that was certain to them were their comrades.
And that's when their luck changed. Hilmdyn was the first to recognize Slug, the obese second-mate of the Botany Bay. Slug was covered in sweat and wheezing, evidently from half-running from the docks to the bar. He ordered two shots and slapped coin in front of a surprised Magloc, then downed the drinks as fast as they were put in front of him. He caught his breath, wiped his brow with a dirty rag, and caught Hilmdyn's stare. He half-stumbled to the foursome, and upon recognizing them said "Hilmdyn! Ah, and you have your companions. Rovan, it is, isn't it? You do courier work for wizards at times still, don't you? Very good! Very good! I've come for help. We need a package delivered. Well, we need it off the ship. The thing is, none of us want to touch the evil thing. Are you in need of coin? We will pay a few coin... as much as we can afford, but the wizard that is waiting for the thing, he'll pay more I am sure! Please come!"
Slug's state roused the group's curiosity, though they barely understood the man's babbling. Still, he spoke of coin, which was all the foursome needed. They half-followed, were half-pulled along as the man talked incomprehensively of jungles and witchcraft and death.
They walked through the gauntlet that was Beggar's Street, carefully avoiding the urchins that were more deft at impeding the way than the elderly. Onto Murky Street, where the few City lanterns were fewer and the moist streets were always populated by leeches that squelched underfoot. Finally onto Water-Rat Road, whose small shops carried trinkets brought in from the docks and in whose alleys less decent trades were plied. At the end of the road were the docks, and there bobbing gently onto the water was the Botany Bay. Edvan and Hilmdyn had often worked for the ship's crew, unloading cargo and the like, and they could see she was worse for wear. The sails were ripped as if by high winds and part of the deck was burnt from some recent fire. The crew had a haunted look and did not speak as the foursome walked up the plank and onboard the vessel, even to acknowledge Lola's lithe presence. Very strange behavior for sailors. Slug took them to the guest's quarters where a guard with a trident was posted outside and the ship's captain and a corpse waited within.
Captain "Bear" Slane was a man living up to his sea name, large with an unkempt brown beard growing gray in spots. He nodded as the group entered and said, "Slug here went to find some folks who are willing to do an odd job. And so here you are. Do you recognize this man," he asked pointing to the corpse.
It lay on a bed, a large and powerful yet middle-aged warrior. His face was marked with the numerous scars of an experienced fighter, but contorted as if the last moments of his life were spent in pain. His eyes were bulged and fixed onto a nearby dresser on which rested a large, brown package in paper and tie while his hands clutched his chest by his heart.
"This is Max Gottlein, a mercenary who has worked for a sorcerer named Tretchner for as long as I can recall. Old Max here used to come to our sloop with coin, would hire us to drop him off somewhere and wait, then we would return him. We would try to pick up merchandise along the way, but the trip is usually just profitable with the coin Max brings. Well Max didn't quite make it on this trip. Looks like he had a heart attack. Since we are planning to shove off very soon we were hoping that someone would take yonder package he brought back and bring it to ol' Tretchner. I'd be willing to pay a couple of gold coins to each of you, but Tretchner used to pay Max quite a nice amount for his work and I'm sure ye'd get much more from that bugger. We'd do it ourselves, but ye see most of my crew here is a superstitious lot and have no desire to touch the package since it was Max's when he died and all." He did his best to smile at the group reassuringly, but it was obvious that there was fear behind Bear's tone and the rings around his eyes spoke of a man who had not slept in a very long time. Slug waited for the party's decision while mopping sweat once more from his receding hairline with a dirty rag.
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