A Warlock Alone, Island Empire solo game

[J. Alexander]

Clan McKay

Going to his cabin, Michael will quickly change into his standard black linen coat, red slike shirt and black leather trousers. Before exiting he will cast clean cantrips on himself and his clothing as well as Guiessippies,
He will the board the boat after giving orders to Chandar to hire a barge and follow some thirty minutes behind with a strike team

 

[Scotley]

Michael boards the little craft that comes to fetch him. It reminds him of nothing so much as a floating ore cart. The craft is boxy and rugged. It strikes him as been quite old, but meticulously maintained. The seats are little short for Michael's frame, but more than broad enough. The craft has a heavy wide canopy which provides considerable shade. The stubby crafted is crewed by three old dwarven sailors. They welcome Michael with proper honors and then promptly ignore him as they set to work sculling and then sailing toward the rock known as Berkshire's Rest. He is offered no refreshment or other courtesy during the short voyage. This does not seem to be a slight rather these dour working men simply aren't used to offering or getting such comforts. The boat sports a small ballista or over-sized crossbow on the aft upper works. The rest of the boat is open and the mast rises through the canopy. Harpoons and boarding axes, which seem to like ridiculas excess in such a small boat seem to have been part of her construction perhaps 200 years ago as the mounts are built in. There is a very small cabin under the aft upper deck, but the doors to it are closed and no one comes or goes as you sail along. Soon you clear the harbor and start around the island toward your destination. The boat sails out until the land just vanishes over the horizon before making the turn toward Berkshires Rest. It is unlikely that Chandar and his barge will sail so far out from land.

 

[J. Alexander]

The Rest

Michael will just realax and enjoy the trip with Guiessppie being polite to the dwarves but also not enganging them in conservation.

 

[Scotley]

Guiseppi seems a little nervious as the land fades from view behind, but soon the boat is approaching a small mushroom of rock just off the island of Oddessapolis.

You bump softly against the wooden pylon and a dwarf drops nimbly to the dock to tie up. The Dwarf who appears to be in charge bids you good day with a terse, "He'll see you in the garden." Then without another word they busy themselves with squaring away the little boat until the return trip. The dock is small and leads to a stair that runs up the cliff-side, turning back upon itself three times. The stone stairs are lined with pink and peach colored bunting and fading sprays of roses. A few rose petals and grains of rice litter the stairs as you climb. At the top you see a large country farmhouse. Three very neat little houses, gayly painted and ornamented with carved wood are in a row overlooking the sea beyond. Tidy animal pins and a kitchen garden are behind. Off to the right is a larger vegetable patch and then formal garden of shrubs. Within you can just make out the roof of some sort of small structure at the center of the hedge maze.

 

[J. Alexander]

Meetings

Michale with Guiesspi in tow will begin to walk forward to the center structure. Michael will then relay his location to Chandar and a brief description of the layout so far. "Keep a sharp eye out, we dont know if were about to sink or swim here"

 

[Scotley]

An old warrior beneath the tree...

Giuseppe points out a couple of human children of perhaps 8 and 10 weeding in the kitchen garden. "That doesn't look like an ambush does it? Maybe this guy really just wants to talk? If they really had plans to take us out, I think those dwarves on the boat would have been friendlier to lull us." He shrugs and looks sheepish, hoping he doesn't sound foolish. You walk into the maze which also has flower gardens inside. Some of the beds are just for show, while others seem to be for harvesting flowers. The maze is simple enough to navigate and soon you find yourself in the middle. An odd sight greets you. A tall elm tree stands next to an ornate stone gazebo, the structure you saw earlier. Beneath the tree and old dwarf sits at a folding table. There is only one unused chair. A large basket sits on the ground next to the dwarf from which an enormous baguette protrudes. He looks up and smiles. "Captain Stormwarden I presume?" He wears an old style suit of chain made of a dark metal, it could even be adamantine. Over the back of his chair a long studded leather jack hangs. A dwarven waraxe with a well worn handle leans against the tree just out of reach. The old fellow has his mail coif pulled back to reveal a bald head. You can see old scars on the fellows hand and head, indeed he is missing a finger from his left hand. A cane of stout oak with a large aquamarine stone for a head leans against the table.

 

[J. Alexander]

Dwarves

MIchael will address the old dwarf "Yes your Grace, I deeply appreciate your time" Michael will then turn to Gusippis, "Lt Please excuse us if you would and make yourself comfortable in the other garden, I will call you when I need you"... MIchael will then with a nod to the older dwarf, take the vacant sit."

 

[Scotley]

The table is bare except for a few tulips in a plain robin's egg blue vase and a simple white cloth. The dwarf nods and then addresses Giuseppe. "I'm sorry lad, but I've some things to say that I can't bare to share with any more than I have to. I hope you'll forgive me." He hands the younger man a sandwich wrapped in a piece of linen, a large cookie and a chilled bottle of ale. "At least I have a little something for you. Never let it be said that Clan MacKay was unhospitable." After Giuseppe moves out of earshot, the dwarf pulls a couple of small plates and bundles of silverware wrapped in napkins out. He sets out small cups and ladles a strong spicy tea from a warm stone crock and sets out milk and honey. "Captain, thank you for joining me for tea. I'm sorry for the unusual location. I married off a granddaughter here a few years ago and fell in love with the place. I like to come and relax in the shade and smell the flowers and feed the birds. A strange pursuit for an old warrior I know, but people expect someone my age to be eccentric, so no one complains. The Berkshires and good people and they set me up with a table and a basket when I ask. I have to bring my own tea though, they pass off some flowery bilgewater as tea. Good dwarf tea steeped in a stone crock is the only way to go." He passes you a cup. He then takes out the yard long loaf of bread and a knife. "Would you be so kind as to slice the bread while I unpack the rest of the sandwich fillings?"

 

[J. Alexander]

High Tea

Sensing the weariness and what appears to be openness of the dwarf Michael will say "Not at all, it would be my pleasure, and I am truly sorry to have such a place that brings back pleaseant and loving memories envolved with these unhappy events." as he is cutting the bread Michael will comment, "The setting is truly beautiful, I must consult with my construcion people and see if we can arrange a simialr relaxing venue instead of a large overzised warehouse. It is peaceful here and i can see how one could easily fall in love with it"

 

[Scotley]

"I'd prefer we enjoy a companionable time together before we talk business." At Michael's comment he adds. "It is a fact of life that I find myself retreating here more and more. You are still young. There is time to find your retreat." Two small stone crocks filled with a thick tomato and cream bisque that smells of seafood come out first. He takes out a small cheese cloth bag and pours some fresh herbs into a palm and rubs his hands together to break up the herbs and release the oils then drops them onto the soup and inhales deeply. "Ah that Ms. Berkshire has taught me a thing or two dwarves didn't know about food." He passes the little bag of herbs over to Michael and he suspects in contains mostly basil with a lesser amount of rosemary and tarragon, perhaps a hint of one or two others. Next, he sets out a tray of slices of smoky ham, roasted beef, white and yellow cheese on leaves of dark bitter lettuce, a smaller tray with sliced olives, pickles, and eggs, then finally, pots of butter and the potent brown mustard of which dwarves are so fond. "I realize this is rather heavy for a human style afternoon tea, but I find that I have to eat early or my stomach pains me all night. I hope you don't mind." He begins to assemble a sandwich of all the ingredients on the trays and in the pots. "If the tea is not to your liking I've another bottle of ale in the basket."