[4e] The Wolfcrown, Chapter 1

[DistractingFlare]

Queen Springseer, who seems to enjoy the burgeoning sense of camaraderie among you, smiles broadly.

Once everybody is seated, she stands to make an announcement. The crowd instantly grows silent and attentive.

"My dear friends, as you all know, today is the first day of spring. With the warming of the weather and flowers blossoming all over out beautiful land, I am also reminded of the threats we face from the outside. Only a few days ago, my mother's dear friend and mentor, Lord Hood, was murdered in his own home, and today an assassin from the same cabal came to our sacred city and tried to slay me as well. These people who sit at my side tonight - "

She indicated each of you.

"Are the brave warriors who saved my life. They risked their own safety, and through incredible acts of valor, they've kept our home free of the black stain of The Cloak. It is my wish that we bestow upon them the greatest award at my disposal. Please kneel, my friends."

Bounder and his guards bring you to the front-center of the grove, and you kneel. Clutching her staff, Springseer stands in front of you. She strikes her staff against the hard ground, and a dazzling flash of pink and white light bursts from the staff. For a moment, you are dazed and euphoric.

When your eyes refocus, Springseer stands directly in front of you. She smiles at each of you in turn.

"Arise, my friends, for you are now members of the Order of Knights of The Vale!"

[sblock=History 15]The Order of The Knights of The Vale is an ancient organization, formed by the first Elven hero of The White Vale. This hero's name was Strata.[sblock=History 20]Strata formed the Order so that The Vale would have a consistent supply of knights to defend the small city from raiding parties of Satyrs and other evil forest-dwellers.[sblock=History 25]A medallion of the Order is said to dissolve if its wearer were to ever betray another Knight of The Vale. This first occurred when Strata's lieutenant, Paregrow, attempted to assassinate him in a failed coup.[/sblock][/sblock][/sblock]

When you stand up, she presses a small medallion into the palm of your hand.

[sblock=New Item]Each of you receives a Medallion of The Vale. This is a symbol of your status as a Knight of The Vale, and is usually worn on the breast.[/sblock]

You return to your seats, and the feast begins. A huge display of sumptuous foods sits in front of you. You may eat at your leisure. Dozens of fey people, from nobles to rangers and commoners, approach the table to offer their respects to you.

At the end of the feast, the rangers present you each with a moderately-sized house, lightly-furnished, but in close proximity to the Queen's dwelling. The houses belong to you, and lie under the protection of the rangers.

[sblock=Your House]You may choose to store items, money, or anything you want in your house. You can even buy furniture for it, if you so choose![/sblock]

In the morning, you'll be expected to either begin your trek to Black Lake, or to send word to Captain Scultone that you'll be remaining in the Vale for the time being.

 

[Rathan]

Doren remained quite throughout the proceedings reminiscing in the events that had transpired and led the his induction to knighthood. Thinking back over the jail cell, Crag, Bounders assailant, and the assassin then back to his now friends and allies it was all a lot to take in. In just a few days his whole life had changed and been turned upside down. But for what he wondered, it may be Blackmoors plan but "WHY me" Doren uttered even a bit out loud which was not his intent.

[sblock=History Check]1d20+8=21 (History)[/sblock]

After the ceremony Doren approached Springseer with a smile and bows slightly to her. "I will be at your call whenever you need me M'Lady as a knight of your Vale. I only hope I can honor Strata and those that he chose to protect those that needed protecting." Doren said as he excused himself to peruse the market place White Vale Center and purchased himself a few much needed items before returning to gather his companions to talk 'business' so to speak. A new dusky red crystal floated slowly around Doren's head now as well as a new cloak that seemed to shine a bit of protection over his form. His armor looked repaired and perhaps slightly more potent that it had before.

"We have a decision to make my friends. Do we deliver the news personally to the Captain... or do we send correspondence and stay here to make sure the queen is safe?" Doren asks bringing a bit of seriousness to the jovial nature of the celebration.

 

[HolyMan]

Torath is overwhelmed by the honor the queen has bestowed upon him.

Speechless the rest of the feast he only murmurs a thank you to those who pay their respects. By the way he holds his head higher and proudly displays the medallion they know he is likely a modest knight or in awe of everything that has happened.

And again he is struck dumbfounded by the generousity that the queen bestows on him. A home, Torath since he was a baby had always lived in the monastery. His room a small cell just as everyone had, and the furnishings all the same. He had a place he could make his own and he would, as soon as he could ask someone what he should do.

When he and the others finally join together gain to talk it is late, but as Doren had said they did have a decision to make. And it could not be delayed.

"I feel the queen is still in danger," he says looking at the medallion still pinned to his chest. "We are honor-bound to protect her."

 

[industrygothica]

"Aye," Baern agrees. "Me don't think it's time to be goin' just yet, though I'm a bit curious t'see what ol' Scultone found out on the other end."

[sblock=OOC]Do we still have access to Thomas's body?[/sblock]

 

[DistractingFlare]

[sblock=ooc]You can check out Thomas' body now, if you like.[/sblock]

On Thomas' body, you find the items he'd received from Libra Kell, but they've since been disenchanted by the guards in order to ensure that the equipment wouldn't be stolen. His tome is charred and blackened, and his pockets are stuffed with a mix of glass beads and burnt herbs.

[sblock=Arcana 15]These beads and herbs are the expended components of a Scrying ritual.[/sblock]
[sblock=Perception 20]You discover a hidden pocket sewn into Thomas' cloak, inside of which is stuffed a brief note in Thomas' handwriting: "Bounder/Mig."[/sblock]

 

[industrygothica]

As Baern looks over Thomas's body, he begins a low chant.

[sblock=OOC]As part of his newly purchased equipment, Baern has acquired the Last Sight Vision ritual (from OG:SotU), and would like to use that now.

Religion check: 1d20+7=24; Baern is able to see the last 4 rounds of Thomas's life, from Thomas's perspective.

Also, his Arcana and Perception checks, respectively: 1d20+7=10, 1d20+7=16

I guess he's too focused on the ritual to notice anything else. [/sblock]

 

[DistractingFlare]

[sblock=Thomas' Last Moments]You're racing through the woods, stumbling over roots and frantically weaving among the thick tree trunks of the forest. A barbed arrow plunges into the trunk next to your head. You look over your shoulder to see a pair of elven rangers chasing you with bows drawn.

"Stop! Wizard! Stand down!"

You stop running and turn to face the elves. Your voice comes out as a scream, which pierces even your own ears.

"Stand down? No! Just let me go!"

You raise your fists, and both your hands erupt in a vibrant orange flame. The rangers nock their arrows and instinctively let them fly. One of the arrows flies over your shoulder, but the other punches squarely into your chest. It sticks out from your ribs at an alien angle, and the heat from your fiery hands immediately chars the shaft of the arrow.

You scream again. This time, it resounds even louder, echoing with a strange mix of hatred and regret.

"I'll die here before they use me again! LET ME GO!"

A huge, golden hornet appears behind the rangers, poised to sting them. The archers cunningly shift behind the hornet, and in unison, they shoot a pair of arrows through the summoned insect. The arrows continue their fateful trajectory through the translucent bug straight into your stomach and shoulder.

You drop to your knees, and the insect dissolved. A spray of blood erupts from your mouth as you scream one last time.

"LET

ME

GO!"

Your robes begin to rise up in flame as your burning hands meet them. You feel a tear roll down your face, but then evaporate from your cheek. The heat continues to intensify, and you feel the skin on your face and body as it smolders. The arrows crackle and snap as you writhe on the ground, and your vision becomes totally obscure as the flames loose their fatal sparks.

All goes dark, and you can only hear the crackling of fire and two pairs of cautious footsteps.[/sblock]

 

[Phaezen]

Squeal, Warforged barbarian

Squeal accepts the token, not realising the symbolism and is quite shocked at being awarded a house.

Standing over the body of Thomas, Squeal stands back to let Baern do his ritual, when that is finished the warforged leans over and takes the spellbook gently from the wizard's corpse and opens it gently.

 

[industrygothica]

The vision subsides, and Baern blinks away the cloudiness caused by the ordeal. "I ain't convinced he acted of his own will," he says simply. "Someone made him do this, an' he chose to die a'fore he'd let 'em do it again."

 

[Shayuri]

"It doesn't matter now," Thorn points out matter of factly. "He's dead. Too bad we can't find out what they did to him. We'll just have to be careful. Work in teams of no less than two. No one gets caught alone."

She then adds, "And yes, I think we should stay for now. I don't think the Queen's out of this yet."