Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
An Adventure in Five Acts (AD&D 2E) (Final Update 25 Feb 2023)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="ilgatto" data-source="post: 8858518" data-attributes="member: 86051"><p style="text-align: center"><strong><span style="font-size: 22px">An Adventure in Five Acts, Act II: </span></strong><span style="font-size: 22px"><em><strong>Spelevaren op de grote rivier </strong></em>*</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">In which the DM repeatedly ignores Navarre’s references to the last sentence of “Act I” and finally informs our gallant knight that the session starts with the novice urging the party to get a move on instead.</span></p><p></p><p>“The sun is rising,” she says. “We should get to Big Beach as soon as possible.”</p><p>Indeed, the morning rain has passed and the first light is shining through the portholes.</p><p>“As you wish, <em>Madame,”</em> the <em>chevalier</em> says, exiting the galley somewhat unsteadily. “Oengus! How do we move this thing?”</p><p>“It requires people,” Sir Oengus says.</p><p>“Splendid!,” the <em>chevalier</em> cries. “All hands on deck, then! Now, if you will excuse me, I shall retreat for the night. <em>Madame, messieurs,</em> good night!”</p><p>With this, he climbs into one of the hammocks and starts snoring loudly.</p><p>Sir Oengus reminds his noble fellows that he wants some work done before he will raise anchor. When Sir Oerknal says that he is still a bit shaken from the attempt on his life and that he will get some sleep as well, Sir Suvali suggests he take the captain’s cabin, what with him being the King and all. Navarre jumps to his feet.</p><p>“Your manners, Sir!,” he cries. With an elegant bow, he turns to the novice: “My Lady, allow me to escort you to your cabin.”</p><p>With the novice thus safely in the captain’s cabin – alone – and the <em>chevalier</em> and Sir Oerknal in their hammocks, Navarre climbs to the deck, where Sir Suvali and Sir Oengus are busy rearranging things. When Sir Oengus notices him, he holds out the barge’s nameplate.</p><p>“Any suggestions?,” he grins. <em>“The Lovely Theresa?”</em></p><p>“You jest, Sir,” Navarre says testily. “How about <em>The Holy Angelina?”</em></p><p>Although he realizes that his noble fellow cannot understand the reference, Navarre still looks at him with a pretty pleased look on his face.</p><p>“<em>Varis</em> it be!,” Sir Oengus says, in a fine reference of his own. Navarre has to laugh and congratulates his noble fellow on the name. After this, he leaves his noble fellows to it and turns his attention to the shore, where he notices at least six or seven columns of smoke. Again, he marvels at the sheer scale of the enemy operation.</p><p></p><p>With the morning mist slowly lifting, Sir Oengus and Sir Suvali raise the anchor and start steering the barge downstream.</p><p>The <em>Varis</em> is not the only vessel <em>en route</em> to Lake River today. All around the ship, vessels of all kinds are on the move and Navarre hails some of them for news. When nobody seems able to come up with anything useful, he finds that the exertions of last night are beginning to take their toll. Not wanting to go to sleep yet, he asks Sir Suvali about the stimulants from the captain’s cabin. The sorcerer brews him some tea and, soon, our noble hero feels a bit like he’s drank way too much coffee. He continues hailing vessels, hoping for news and any nobles who could have survived the massacre. However, he doesn’t get much more than that “folk be sayin’ as that the King be dead”.</p><p>It isn’t much later, just after the mist has gone, when the <em>Varis</em> reaches Lake River. The river is some 100 yards wide at this point and most vessels have started steering to the right, into what Sir Oengus explains is a deeper part of the river. As the <em>Varis</em> gets further and further downstream, buildings make way for unspoiled forests and soon both banks of the river are hidden by the dense foliage of a mangrove-like forest. Flocks of birds soar overhead and all manner of other wildlife move in the water and among the trees. Soon, all signs of human habitation – mostly simple wooden jetties serving perhaps a handful of barrows or sheds – have all but disappeared.</p><p></p><p>Some time after seven o’clock, Sir Suvali happens to be in the hold when the murderous Theresa comes round.</p><p>“Sire!,” he yells. “She’s woken up!”</p><p>Sir Oerknal gets to his feet but doesn’t say much, even when the woman starts yelling at him and the sorcerer.</p><p>“Thieves!,” she screams. “Where’s my husband? Get me out of these ropes! What are you doing with my barge?”</p><p>"Shut up,” Sir Suvali says. “Why did you try to murder the King?”</p><p>“The King!?,” the woman scoffs. “That creature? Don’t make me laugh! It is not human!”</p><p>Neither Sir Suvali nor Sir Oerknal say much to this and the interrogation doesn’t really lead anywhere. In the end, Sir Suvali feeds the woman some of her own sleep-inducing tea and soon she is sound asleep again.</p><p>The next couple of hours pass without much incident, the occasional jetty coming and going. Sir Suvali completes an inventory of the vessel and finds that there are some forty man-days worth of supplies on board.</p><p></p><p>About an hour before midday, the <em>Varis</em> approaches the burnt-out shell of a large barge run aground close to the right bank. Numbers of people seem to be retrieving all kinds of things from it and launches move to and fro. When our noble heroes get closer, they notice what must be more than a dozen bodies under white sheets on the riverbank.</p><p>“Hmm…,” Navarre says to Sir Oengus at the wheel. “It would seem that that barge was sailing in our direction. Perhaps we should try and find out who was on it.”</p><p>“I won’t drop anchor but I’ll get us a bit closer,” Sir Oengus says.</p><p>He steers the <em>Varis</em> closer to the shore and presently Navarre hails a man in a small launch.</p><p>“Ho! Over there!,” he hollers. “Who are they?”</p><p>“Piss off!,” the man yells back.</p><p>“Nice man,” Sir Oengus says. “Best let it be. Don’t blow our cover and all that.”</p><p></p><p>The journey continues with Navarre, Sir Oengus, Sir Oerknal, and Sir Suvali on deck and the <em>chevalier</em> and the novice still sound asleep below decks. Some two hours after midday, Sir Oengus announces that he is getting tired and drops anchor at a jetty with a few shacks and what seems to be a tavern. He asks Sir Suvali to go to ashore and get some ropes and clothes.</p><p>“You people stick out like sore thumbs,” Sir Oengus says. “You need to get changed.”</p><p>“Me?,” Sir Suvali asks.</p><p>“Listen here, lubber,” Sir Oengus says. “Someone’s gotta go get the stuff and it’s not gonna be the peacock or the King here. We need to stay low.”</p><p>“Agreed,” Sir Suvali says. “But perhaps you’d better come as well. You do speak the lingo better than I do.”</p><p>Sir Oengus gives in and he is the first to get into the launch. When Sir Suvali is halfway down the rope ladder, he notices that the sorcerer hasn’t changed.</p><p>“Ahoy!,” he yells at him. “What did I say about peacocks?”</p><p>The sorcerer throws him an uneasy glance.</p><p>“Peacock?,” he asks. “Me?”</p><p>“Look at yourself, man!,” Sir Oengus hollers. “Do you look like a bargeman?”</p><p>“Not at all,” Sir Suvali replies. “I thought you could be the skipper and I the paying passenger?”</p><p>“If you want to stay alive on <em>my</em> barge, you will dress as <em>I </em>say,” Sir Oengus yells.</p><p>The sorcerer looks up at Sir Oerknal on deck as if expecting some kind of support but the creature only shrugs its shoulders. He decides to swallow his pride and returns to the hold to change into the robes of a pilgrim. When he gets to the launch some time later, Sir Oengus extends his hand.</p><p>“Mighty noble of you,” he says.</p><p>Navarre decides to get some rest.</p><p></p><p>The tavern turns out to be little more than a ramshackle collection of planks, poles, and beams and there’s only a handful of elderly locals in the common room. When our noble duo enter, a rather plain-looking woman approaches.</p><p>“Welcome,” she says. “What can I do for you?”</p><p>“Splice the mainbrace, me beauty!,” Sir Oengus hollers, turning on the charm. “Two tankards of yer best brew and a bit of yer parley-voo if I ye’ll allow me!”</p><p>The woman brings a jug of ale and a couple of mugs and pours the ale. Sir Oengus takes a great swig of the ale.</p><p>“Cor blimey!,” he exclaims, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. “A fine brew as ever I saw! But non’ as fine as yer deadlights, me beauty! To be sure!”</p><p>The woman doesn’t blink an eye – perhaps she gets this all the time.</p><p>“Aye, me pretty lass,” Sir Oengus continues. “Mayhap as ye can sees me to some long clothes and a length of yer best hempen?”</p><p>“Rope? Clothes? How much rope?”</p><p>“A cable’s length, if ye’ll be so kind me beauty!”</p><p>“I could get you some rope, maybe twenty feet,” the woman says. “Clothes? No.”</p><p>“Thunder!,” Sir Oengus says. “Here be me getting these pilgrims to Big Beach and as sure’s I turns me back the scallywags use me best hempen to belay their togs to the mast! Never too fast to be sure and into the lake as Boreas blowin’!”</p><p>The woman turns to an old man and instructs him to bring her the rope.</p><p>“Twenty feet it be,” Sir Oengus resumes, when the woman turns to face him again. “Now, me beauty, fill’em to the brim’s a deuce I says. Hey! How’s about last night, ‘ey?”</p><p>“Last night?,” the woman says, filling the mugs.</p><p>“Apple Island!,” Sir Oengus exclaims. “Nobody be sayin’ naught to ye?”</p><p>“The fancy folk?,” the woman asks. “What about it?”</p><p>“Well blow me down!,” Sir Oengus exclaims. “All hands be bletherin’ about it! ‘t Was pillage and plunder! Gave no quarter I hears! Ye heard naught at all?”</p><p>“There’s talk of some riders passing by this morning rain,” the woman says.</p><p>“Sailing where, me lass?,” Sir Oengus asks.</p><p>“Folk say they were headed for the coast,” the woman says.</p><p>“Who be these lubbers?”</p><p>“Who do you think?,” the woman scoffs. “Fancy folk. Three sheets in the wind, no doubt!”</p><p>“There is a new King,” Sir Suvali suddenly says. “A changeling.”</p><p>“What?,” the woman says, casting him a startled glance.</p><p>“The King,” Sir Suvali says. “He is a changeling and he will retake the Kingdom!”</p><p>“Have they gone mad?!,” the woman exclaims. “A changeling king? You’ve got to be joking!”</p><p>“There has been a revolution!,” Sir Suvali proclaims. “The King will prevail!”</p><p>Presently the old man returns with a 20-foot rope.</p><p>“Avast, pilgrim!,” Sir Oengus says, kicking the sorcerer under the table. “Ye be ‘ere to pick up me tab, not steal me parley-voo!”</p><p>He turns toward the woman again and flashes her a lewd smile: “What be yer finest, me beauty? What says as you and me swigs us a nipperkin or two?”</p><p>The woman disappears behind the bar and returns with a stoneware bottle and two small glasses. She fills the glasses and heads back to the bar, leaving the bottle on the table.</p><p></p><p>Just when Sir Oengus raises his glass, a loud voice booms.</p><p>“Moon! By Olm! Is that you?”</p><p>Much to their surprise, our noble duo see Sir Eber Ard Weald entering the tavern.</p><p>“We’re off,” Sir Suvali says, putting some coins on the table and swiftly getting to his feet.</p><p>“Eber, you old picaroon!,” Sir Oengus yells, before turning to the woman again. “Ahoy, me beauty! Another one over ‘ere!”</p><p>“Now!,” the sorcerer says urgently, grabbing his noble fellow by the arm and dragging him to the exit. “Take the rope!”</p><p>And so our noble duo hastily leave the tavern, Sir Suvali gesturing Sir Eber to follow them.</p><p>Sir Eber, who seems to have been delayed to such an extent that he has managed to miss the entire Fortnight, shakes his head and follows his noble fellows back to the <em>Varis.</em> When they are almost there, Sir Suvali turns around.</p><p>“Don’t recognize me, do you?,” he says to the ranger, obviously quite pleased with himself. “I’m in disguise!”</p><p></p><p>When our three noble heroes board the <em>Varis</em> again, they find Sir Oerknal and the <em>chevalier</em> on deck, the latter waving a glass of wine at them when he spots them.</p><p>"Surprise!,” Sir Oengus yells. “Look who we found.”</p><p>“Bravo!,” the <em>chevalier</em> cries, without registering Sir Eber at all. He has been awake since midday and it seems that he hasn’t yet eaten a thing.</p><p>“I say!,” he starts. “Who is in charge of breakfast? It has been hours! Some viands, perhaps?”</p><p>“In the galley,” Sir Oengus replies.</p><p>“<em>Mon cher!,”</em> the <em>chevalier</em> cries, perhaps unfamiliar with the concept. “What <em>do</em> you mean?”</p><p>“Make some porridge,” Sir Oengus replies. “You know, pans, pots.”</p><p>The <em>chevalier</em> seems confused.</p><p>“Pans? Porridge? Why… I suppose one could make do with porridge but… how does one go about making it?”</p><p>“With beer,” Sir Oerknal says.</p><p>When Sir Eber and Sir Oengus burst out laughing, the <em>chevalier</em> casts them an uneasy glance.</p><p>“Perhaps we could wake up the cook?,” he ventures, pointing to where Theresa is still held in a drugged stupor below.</p><p>But then Sir Eber heartily slams the <em>chevalier</em> on the back.</p><p>“Scaralat!,” he yells. “You old buffoon! Haven’t changed one bit, I see! How’s tricks?”</p><p>It is only now that the <em>chevalier</em> seems to recognize the ranger.</p><p>“Eber!,” he exclaims. “Is that you? Wherever <em>have</em> you been? <em>Mon cher!</em> Speak, I implore you!”</p><p>The ranger mumbles something about preferring forests to parties on islands and turns out to be wholly unaware of what has happened on Apple Island. With Sir Suvali and Sir Oengus already getting the <em>Varis</em> going again, the <em>chevalier</em> and Sir Oerknal bring Sir Eber up to speed.</p><p></p><p>At dusk, the <em>Varis</em> drops anchor at another jetty. When Sir Oengus and Sir Suvali have prepared the barge for the night, they descend into the hold where the novice and their noble fellows are gathered around a meal. When everybody has eaten and the <em>chevalier</em> and Navarre have consumed yet another bottle of the excellent wines, Navarre proposes that someone go ashore to see what news there is of Big Beach.</p><p>But no one volunteers, so our noble hero decides to go himself. He gets into the launch and rows to the shore, where he finds some ramshackle huts and sheds and a small timber structure he assumes to be the tavern. When he enters the place, he finds it full of locals, who eye him for a second before resuming their conversation. He walks over to the counter and asks the barman for a mug of his best ale.</p><p>“What news from Big Beach?,” he asks, when the man pours him some ale from a jug on the counter.</p><p>“Word is there’s been some trouble,” the barman says.</p><p>“What kind of trouble?,” Navarre asks, fearing the worst. “When?”</p><p>“Riots,” the barman says.</p><p>“What happened?”</p><p>“Bwoa,” the barman says. “Word is some scum looted parts of the town.”</p><p>“Scum?,” Navarre asks. “Bandits?”</p><p>“Nah,” the barman says. “Scum. Another one?”</p><p>Navarre nods and the barman fills his mug again.</p><p></p><p>When the man turns out to know nothing more about what happened in Big Beach, Navarre decides to let the matter rest – he doesn’t know who’s who in the tavern and he doesn’t want to attract attention to himself. He finishes his ale, puts a coin on the counter and leaves the tavern, mumbling goodnight to the assembled villagers. He hasn’t moved twenty yards when he runs into the <em>chevalier</em> and most of the others, all wearing pilgrim’s robes.</p><p>“Ah! <em>Mon cher!,”</em> the <em>chevalier</em> cries, obviously quite inebriated. “Just the man! We’re off to buy some horses!”</p><p>“You’re what?,” Navarre asks, anxiously looking back at the tavern. “And then what?”</p><p>“<em>Je suis chevalier!,”</em> the <em>chevalier</em> exclaims, assuming a grand pose.</p><p>“My Lord Duke,” Navarre says. “I would remind you that we are traveling incognito.”</p><p>“<em>Fi!,”</em> the <em>chevalier</em> cries. “Out of my way, <em>mon cher!”</em></p><p>And with that, he shoves past Navarre and enters the tavern.</p><p>“Hasn’t changed a bit, has he?,” Sir Eber says.</p><p>Navarre straightens his back.</p><p>“I’m not sure what you mean,” he says stiffly.</p><p>“No matter,” the ranger says. “Maybe you can tell me why we’re going to Big Beach when the action is on Apple Island?”</p><p>“We are escorting a Lady, Sir,” Navarre says.</p><p>“In the wrong direction,” Sir Eber says. “I say we start killing people.”</p><p>“That’s what I said,” Oerknal joins in. “Throw the bitch overboard and get on with it.”</p><p></p><p>Not for the first time, Navarre is beginning to wonder whether appointing Sir Oerknal as the new King may have been a mistake, especially since the creature’s behavior has taken a definite turn for the worse in the past few days. He decides to ignore the remark and informs his noble fellows that they will certainly “start killing people” after the novice has been delivered to safety. But Sir Eber isn’t easily swayed.</p><p>“There’s sure to be messengers getting from Big Beach to the island,” he says. “I say we head into the forest, hunt them down and get some answers.”</p><p>“I’m afraid I must insist,” Navarre says. “I have given the Lady my word.”</p><p>“Bah!,” Sir Eber says. “Don’t you want to know what’s going on?”</p><p>“Certainly,” Navarre says. “Information is the one thing we seem unable to get. However, heading into the forest and waiting for some messengers to turn up seems to be a bit of a wild goose chase to me, if not an outright waste of precious time.”</p><p>“Messengers, soldiers, scouts, anything,” the ranger says, flexing his muscles.</p><p>“Perhaps the magnitude of the task at hand escapes you, Sir,” Navarre says. “I remind you that we are faced with an enemy with the capacity to strike in force and in many places at once. I assure you that I have seen these forces with my own eyes and I do not hesitate to admit that the six of us would not stand much of a chance in an encounter with even a single unit of these soldiers.”</p><p>“Have a little faith,” the ranger says. “But we can target only messengers and scouts if you want.”</p><p>“To what purpose?,” Navarre asks. “Spend days, weeks in a forest in the hopes of some suitable target turning up and then what? Learn things we would also learn if we proceed with our plan? I say we keep to what was agreed. Regroup, assemble an army. Then ride into battle.”</p><p>“I didn’t agree to anything,” Sir Eber says. “We must move against the enemy as soon as possible. Oerknal here agrees.”</p><p>“I’m sure he does,” Navarre says, with another doubtful look at the creature.</p><p>The discussion continues like this for some time until Navarre finally tires of it. Just when he is about to excuse himself, the tavern door is thrown open and the <em>chevalier</em> emerges, some locals scrambling to keep up with him.</p><p>“<em>Messieurs!,”</em> the <em>chevalier</em> cries. <em>“Aux chevaux!”</em></p><p>Navarre heads back to the <em>Varis</em> and climbs into his hammock. So much for getting to Big Beach unnoticed.</p><p>Back on the shore, his noble fellows actually manage to buy a horse and even succeed in getting it on board, eventually.</p><p>Around midnight, Theresa wakes up again. When she starts screaming again and refuses to shut up, Sir Suvali feeds her some more of her own tea, sending her back to sleep.</p><p>One hour after midnight, Sir Eber, on deck to keep watch, hears some more riders pass in the forest close to the shore.</p><p></p><p><strong>Day 3:</strong> Navarre wakes up to the smell of bacon and eggs. The novice has been preparing a hearty breakfast and presently the <em>chevalier</em> compliments her on her efforts.</p><p>“<em>Madame!,”</em> he cries. “I have not enjoyed such an excellent breakfast in ages! It goes splendidly with the <em>Lillac!”</em></p><p>After breakfast, Sir Oengus and Sir Suvali get the <em>Varis</em> moving again and the day passes uneventfully until later that afternoon (16.00 hrs), when our noble heroes spot what appears to be blockade downstream. Two groups of three large barges tied together extend some way into the river, one to each side, effectively blocking both fairways. Several boats and launches are in the water and barges are cuing up to either side, their decks crawling with soldiers. Navarre, who is on deck enjoying one of the excellent bottles of wine with the <em>chevalier,</em> gets to his feet and notices the banners of Palava on one side of the river and those of Bagabuxsha on the other.</p><p>“Gentlemen,” he says. “Soldiers ahead.”</p><p>Sir Oengus is already slowing down the <em>Varis</em> and presently a small pinnace approaches. Some soldiers are in it, yelling and waving their arms.</p><p>“Hove-to!,” they holler. “To the side!”</p><p>Navarre exchanges a look with Sir Oengus, who starts steering the <em>Varis</em> closer to the shore.</p><p>“Stay there and see what they want,” Sir Oengus says to Navarre. “Everybody else get down behind the railing and keep your weapons down! We don’t know what side they are on!”</p><p>“I’d better get below decks,” Sir Oerknal says. “What with all these humanoids about and all that.”</p><p>“Good thinking,” Sir Suvali calls after him. “And make sure the fat cow doesn’t start screaming again.”</p><p></p><p>When the pinnace comes closer, Navarre clearly recognizes the men on it as Palavan soldiers.</p><p>“Palava!,” he yells. “Who is in command?”</p><p>“Captain Belenos, in the name of Palava,” one of the men in the pinnace shouts. “Prepare to be boarded!”</p><p>“There shall be no boarding!,” Navarre yells back at him. “We bring news from Apple Island and there is no time to lose!”</p><p>“I have my orders!,” captain Belenos yells. “We will search the barge!”</p><p>“You shall do nothing of the sort, captain!,” Navarre yells. “I am Navarre Ard Dauberval. Stand down your men!”</p><p>This seems to throw the captain for a bit and, by the time the answer comes, the pinnace is close enough for people to stop shouting at each other.</p><p>“It is for you own safety, my Lord,” the captain says, after a good look at Navarre. “I will need to make sure there’s no one hiding below decks with a knife to someone’s throat.”</p><p>“That is very considerate of you, captain,” Navarre says. “I assure you that nothing of the sort is going on. You have my word.”</p><p></p><p>Then the <em>chevalier</em> gets up from behind the railing.</p><p>“<em>Mon capitaine!,”</em> he cries. “What news of the riders who passed this way?”</p><p>“They were the King’s men, Sir,” captain Belenos says. “They were headed for Big Beach.”</p><p>“The King’s men?,” the <em>chevalier</em> asks. “How so?”</p><p>“I have been told that they managed to break out of the fortress before the enemy could surround it, Sir.”</p><p>“<em>Mon cher!,”</em> the <em>chevalier</em> cries at Navarre. “There is still hope! The cavalry has survived!”</p><p>“Is there any news as to who is behind all of this, captain?,” Navarre asks.</p><p>“They were professional soldiers and bandits, my Lord,” the captain says. “The soldiers were unlike anyone has ever seen. They wore iron plating and wielded pole-axes.”</p><p>“Any banners?”</p><p>“The soldiers displayed a black circle,” the captain says.</p><p>“Who currently speaks for Palava?,” Navarre asks.</p><p>“It is Lord Corwin, my Lord,” the captain says. “Second nephew to the Duke.”</p><p>“Where can I find him?”</p><p>“The fortress, my Lord,” the captain says. “At the next jetty.”</p><p>“Thank you, captain,” Navarre says. “Carry on!”</p><p></p><p>*<span style="font-size: 12px"> This is a play on the title of a Dutch translation of Jack Vance’s novel <em><u>Showboat World</u></em> (Pyramid Books, 1975)</span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ilgatto, post: 8858518, member: 86051"] [CENTER][B][SIZE=6]An Adventure in Five Acts, Act II: [/SIZE][/B][SIZE=6][I][B]Spelevaren op de grote rivier [/B][/I]*[/SIZE][/CENTER] [SIZE=3]In which the DM repeatedly ignores Navarre’s references to the last sentence of “Act I” and finally informs our gallant knight that the session starts with the novice urging the party to get a move on instead.[/SIZE] “The sun is rising,” she says. “We should get to Big Beach as soon as possible.” Indeed, the morning rain has passed and the first light is shining through the portholes. “As you wish, [I]Madame,”[/I] the [I]chevalier[/I] says, exiting the galley somewhat unsteadily. “Oengus! How do we move this thing?” “It requires people,” Sir Oengus says. “Splendid!,” the [I]chevalier[/I] cries. “All hands on deck, then! Now, if you will excuse me, I shall retreat for the night. [I]Madame, messieurs,[/I] good night!” With this, he climbs into one of the hammocks and starts snoring loudly. Sir Oengus reminds his noble fellows that he wants some work done before he will raise anchor. When Sir Oerknal says that he is still a bit shaken from the attempt on his life and that he will get some sleep as well, Sir Suvali suggests he take the captain’s cabin, what with him being the King and all. Navarre jumps to his feet. “Your manners, Sir!,” he cries. With an elegant bow, he turns to the novice: “My Lady, allow me to escort you to your cabin.” With the novice thus safely in the captain’s cabin – alone – and the [I]chevalier[/I] and Sir Oerknal in their hammocks, Navarre climbs to the deck, where Sir Suvali and Sir Oengus are busy rearranging things. When Sir Oengus notices him, he holds out the barge’s nameplate. “Any suggestions?,” he grins. [I]“The Lovely Theresa?”[/I] “You jest, Sir,” Navarre says testily. “How about [I]The Holy Angelina?”[/I] Although he realizes that his noble fellow cannot understand the reference, Navarre still looks at him with a pretty pleased look on his face. “[I]Varis[/I] it be!,” Sir Oengus says, in a fine reference of his own. Navarre has to laugh and congratulates his noble fellow on the name. After this, he leaves his noble fellows to it and turns his attention to the shore, where he notices at least six or seven columns of smoke. Again, he marvels at the sheer scale of the enemy operation. With the morning mist slowly lifting, Sir Oengus and Sir Suvali raise the anchor and start steering the barge downstream. The [I]Varis[/I] is not the only vessel [I]en route[/I] to Lake River today. All around the ship, vessels of all kinds are on the move and Navarre hails some of them for news. When nobody seems able to come up with anything useful, he finds that the exertions of last night are beginning to take their toll. Not wanting to go to sleep yet, he asks Sir Suvali about the stimulants from the captain’s cabin. The sorcerer brews him some tea and, soon, our noble hero feels a bit like he’s drank way too much coffee. He continues hailing vessels, hoping for news and any nobles who could have survived the massacre. However, he doesn’t get much more than that “folk be sayin’ as that the King be dead”. It isn’t much later, just after the mist has gone, when the [I]Varis[/I] reaches Lake River. The river is some 100 yards wide at this point and most vessels have started steering to the right, into what Sir Oengus explains is a deeper part of the river. As the [I]Varis[/I] gets further and further downstream, buildings make way for unspoiled forests and soon both banks of the river are hidden by the dense foliage of a mangrove-like forest. Flocks of birds soar overhead and all manner of other wildlife move in the water and among the trees. Soon, all signs of human habitation – mostly simple wooden jetties serving perhaps a handful of barrows or sheds – have all but disappeared. Some time after seven o’clock, Sir Suvali happens to be in the hold when the murderous Theresa comes round. “Sire!,” he yells. “She’s woken up!” Sir Oerknal gets to his feet but doesn’t say much, even when the woman starts yelling at him and the sorcerer. “Thieves!,” she screams. “Where’s my husband? Get me out of these ropes! What are you doing with my barge?” "Shut up,” Sir Suvali says. “Why did you try to murder the King?” “The King!?,” the woman scoffs. “That creature? Don’t make me laugh! It is not human!” Neither Sir Suvali nor Sir Oerknal say much to this and the interrogation doesn’t really lead anywhere. In the end, Sir Suvali feeds the woman some of her own sleep-inducing tea and soon she is sound asleep again. The next couple of hours pass without much incident, the occasional jetty coming and going. Sir Suvali completes an inventory of the vessel and finds that there are some forty man-days worth of supplies on board. About an hour before midday, the [I]Varis[/I] approaches the burnt-out shell of a large barge run aground close to the right bank. Numbers of people seem to be retrieving all kinds of things from it and launches move to and fro. When our noble heroes get closer, they notice what must be more than a dozen bodies under white sheets on the riverbank. “Hmm…,” Navarre says to Sir Oengus at the wheel. “It would seem that that barge was sailing in our direction. Perhaps we should try and find out who was on it.” “I won’t drop anchor but I’ll get us a bit closer,” Sir Oengus says. He steers the [I]Varis[/I] closer to the shore and presently Navarre hails a man in a small launch. “Ho! Over there!,” he hollers. “Who are they?” “Piss off!,” the man yells back. “Nice man,” Sir Oengus says. “Best let it be. Don’t blow our cover and all that.” The journey continues with Navarre, Sir Oengus, Sir Oerknal, and Sir Suvali on deck and the [I]chevalier[/I] and the novice still sound asleep below decks. Some two hours after midday, Sir Oengus announces that he is getting tired and drops anchor at a jetty with a few shacks and what seems to be a tavern. He asks Sir Suvali to go to ashore and get some ropes and clothes. “You people stick out like sore thumbs,” Sir Oengus says. “You need to get changed.” “Me?,” Sir Suvali asks. “Listen here, lubber,” Sir Oengus says. “Someone’s gotta go get the stuff and it’s not gonna be the peacock or the King here. We need to stay low.” “Agreed,” Sir Suvali says. “But perhaps you’d better come as well. You do speak the lingo better than I do.” Sir Oengus gives in and he is the first to get into the launch. When Sir Suvali is halfway down the rope ladder, he notices that the sorcerer hasn’t changed. “Ahoy!,” he yells at him. “What did I say about peacocks?” The sorcerer throws him an uneasy glance. “Peacock?,” he asks. “Me?” “Look at yourself, man!,” Sir Oengus hollers. “Do you look like a bargeman?” “Not at all,” Sir Suvali replies. “I thought you could be the skipper and I the paying passenger?” “If you want to stay alive on [I]my[/I] barge, you will dress as [I]I [/I]say,” Sir Oengus yells. The sorcerer looks up at Sir Oerknal on deck as if expecting some kind of support but the creature only shrugs its shoulders. He decides to swallow his pride and returns to the hold to change into the robes of a pilgrim. When he gets to the launch some time later, Sir Oengus extends his hand. “Mighty noble of you,” he says. Navarre decides to get some rest. The tavern turns out to be little more than a ramshackle collection of planks, poles, and beams and there’s only a handful of elderly locals in the common room. When our noble duo enter, a rather plain-looking woman approaches. “Welcome,” she says. “What can I do for you?” “Splice the mainbrace, me beauty!,” Sir Oengus hollers, turning on the charm. “Two tankards of yer best brew and a bit of yer parley-voo if I ye’ll allow me!” The woman brings a jug of ale and a couple of mugs and pours the ale. Sir Oengus takes a great swig of the ale. “Cor blimey!,” he exclaims, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. “A fine brew as ever I saw! But non’ as fine as yer deadlights, me beauty! To be sure!” The woman doesn’t blink an eye – perhaps she gets this all the time. “Aye, me pretty lass,” Sir Oengus continues. “Mayhap as ye can sees me to some long clothes and a length of yer best hempen?” “Rope? Clothes? How much rope?” “A cable’s length, if ye’ll be so kind me beauty!” “I could get you some rope, maybe twenty feet,” the woman says. “Clothes? No.” “Thunder!,” Sir Oengus says. “Here be me getting these pilgrims to Big Beach and as sure’s I turns me back the scallywags use me best hempen to belay their togs to the mast! Never too fast to be sure and into the lake as Boreas blowin’!” The woman turns to an old man and instructs him to bring her the rope. “Twenty feet it be,” Sir Oengus resumes, when the woman turns to face him again. “Now, me beauty, fill’em to the brim’s a deuce I says. Hey! How’s about last night, ‘ey?” “Last night?,” the woman says, filling the mugs. “Apple Island!,” Sir Oengus exclaims. “Nobody be sayin’ naught to ye?” “The fancy folk?,” the woman asks. “What about it?” “Well blow me down!,” Sir Oengus exclaims. “All hands be bletherin’ about it! ‘t Was pillage and plunder! Gave no quarter I hears! Ye heard naught at all?” “There’s talk of some riders passing by this morning rain,” the woman says. “Sailing where, me lass?,” Sir Oengus asks. “Folk say they were headed for the coast,” the woman says. “Who be these lubbers?” “Who do you think?,” the woman scoffs. “Fancy folk. Three sheets in the wind, no doubt!” “There is a new King,” Sir Suvali suddenly says. “A changeling.” “What?,” the woman says, casting him a startled glance. “The King,” Sir Suvali says. “He is a changeling and he will retake the Kingdom!” “Have they gone mad?!,” the woman exclaims. “A changeling king? You’ve got to be joking!” “There has been a revolution!,” Sir Suvali proclaims. “The King will prevail!” Presently the old man returns with a 20-foot rope. “Avast, pilgrim!,” Sir Oengus says, kicking the sorcerer under the table. “Ye be ‘ere to pick up me tab, not steal me parley-voo!” He turns toward the woman again and flashes her a lewd smile: “What be yer finest, me beauty? What says as you and me swigs us a nipperkin or two?” The woman disappears behind the bar and returns with a stoneware bottle and two small glasses. She fills the glasses and heads back to the bar, leaving the bottle on the table. Just when Sir Oengus raises his glass, a loud voice booms. “Moon! By Olm! Is that you?” Much to their surprise, our noble duo see Sir Eber Ard Weald entering the tavern. “We’re off,” Sir Suvali says, putting some coins on the table and swiftly getting to his feet. “Eber, you old picaroon!,” Sir Oengus yells, before turning to the woman again. “Ahoy, me beauty! Another one over ‘ere!” “Now!,” the sorcerer says urgently, grabbing his noble fellow by the arm and dragging him to the exit. “Take the rope!” And so our noble duo hastily leave the tavern, Sir Suvali gesturing Sir Eber to follow them. Sir Eber, who seems to have been delayed to such an extent that he has managed to miss the entire Fortnight, shakes his head and follows his noble fellows back to the [I]Varis.[/I] When they are almost there, Sir Suvali turns around. “Don’t recognize me, do you?,” he says to the ranger, obviously quite pleased with himself. “I’m in disguise!” When our three noble heroes board the [I]Varis[/I] again, they find Sir Oerknal and the [I]chevalier[/I] on deck, the latter waving a glass of wine at them when he spots them. "Surprise!,” Sir Oengus yells. “Look who we found.” “Bravo!,” the [I]chevalier[/I] cries, without registering Sir Eber at all. He has been awake since midday and it seems that he hasn’t yet eaten a thing. “I say!,” he starts. “Who is in charge of breakfast? It has been hours! Some viands, perhaps?” “In the galley,” Sir Oengus replies. “[I]Mon cher!,”[/I] the [I]chevalier[/I] cries, perhaps unfamiliar with the concept. “What [I]do[/I] you mean?” “Make some porridge,” Sir Oengus replies. “You know, pans, pots.” The [I]chevalier[/I] seems confused. “Pans? Porridge? Why… I suppose one could make do with porridge but… how does one go about making it?” “With beer,” Sir Oerknal says. When Sir Eber and Sir Oengus burst out laughing, the [I]chevalier[/I] casts them an uneasy glance. “Perhaps we could wake up the cook?,” he ventures, pointing to where Theresa is still held in a drugged stupor below. But then Sir Eber heartily slams the [I]chevalier[/I] on the back. “Scaralat!,” he yells. “You old buffoon! Haven’t changed one bit, I see! How’s tricks?” It is only now that the [I]chevalier[/I] seems to recognize the ranger. “Eber!,” he exclaims. “Is that you? Wherever [I]have[/I] you been? [I]Mon cher![/I] Speak, I implore you!” The ranger mumbles something about preferring forests to parties on islands and turns out to be wholly unaware of what has happened on Apple Island. With Sir Suvali and Sir Oengus already getting the [I]Varis[/I] going again, the [I]chevalier[/I] and Sir Oerknal bring Sir Eber up to speed. At dusk, the [I]Varis[/I] drops anchor at another jetty. When Sir Oengus and Sir Suvali have prepared the barge for the night, they descend into the hold where the novice and their noble fellows are gathered around a meal. When everybody has eaten and the [I]chevalier[/I] and Navarre have consumed yet another bottle of the excellent wines, Navarre proposes that someone go ashore to see what news there is of Big Beach. But no one volunteers, so our noble hero decides to go himself. He gets into the launch and rows to the shore, where he finds some ramshackle huts and sheds and a small timber structure he assumes to be the tavern. When he enters the place, he finds it full of locals, who eye him for a second before resuming their conversation. He walks over to the counter and asks the barman for a mug of his best ale. “What news from Big Beach?,” he asks, when the man pours him some ale from a jug on the counter. “Word is there’s been some trouble,” the barman says. “What kind of trouble?,” Navarre asks, fearing the worst. “When?” “Riots,” the barman says. “What happened?” “Bwoa,” the barman says. “Word is some scum looted parts of the town.” “Scum?,” Navarre asks. “Bandits?” “Nah,” the barman says. “Scum. Another one?” Navarre nods and the barman fills his mug again. When the man turns out to know nothing more about what happened in Big Beach, Navarre decides to let the matter rest – he doesn’t know who’s who in the tavern and he doesn’t want to attract attention to himself. He finishes his ale, puts a coin on the counter and leaves the tavern, mumbling goodnight to the assembled villagers. He hasn’t moved twenty yards when he runs into the [I]chevalier[/I] and most of the others, all wearing pilgrim’s robes. “Ah! [I]Mon cher!,”[/I] the [I]chevalier[/I] cries, obviously quite inebriated. “Just the man! We’re off to buy some horses!” “You’re what?,” Navarre asks, anxiously looking back at the tavern. “And then what?” “[I]Je suis chevalier!,”[/I] the [I]chevalier[/I] exclaims, assuming a grand pose. “My Lord Duke,” Navarre says. “I would remind you that we are traveling incognito.” “[I]Fi!,”[/I] the [I]chevalier[/I] cries. “Out of my way, [I]mon cher!”[/I] And with that, he shoves past Navarre and enters the tavern. “Hasn’t changed a bit, has he?,” Sir Eber says. Navarre straightens his back. “I’m not sure what you mean,” he says stiffly. “No matter,” the ranger says. “Maybe you can tell me why we’re going to Big Beach when the action is on Apple Island?” “We are escorting a Lady, Sir,” Navarre says. “In the wrong direction,” Sir Eber says. “I say we start killing people.” “That’s what I said,” Oerknal joins in. “Throw the bitch overboard and get on with it.” Not for the first time, Navarre is beginning to wonder whether appointing Sir Oerknal as the new King may have been a mistake, especially since the creature’s behavior has taken a definite turn for the worse in the past few days. He decides to ignore the remark and informs his noble fellows that they will certainly “start killing people” after the novice has been delivered to safety. But Sir Eber isn’t easily swayed. “There’s sure to be messengers getting from Big Beach to the island,” he says. “I say we head into the forest, hunt them down and get some answers.” “I’m afraid I must insist,” Navarre says. “I have given the Lady my word.” “Bah!,” Sir Eber says. “Don’t you want to know what’s going on?” “Certainly,” Navarre says. “Information is the one thing we seem unable to get. However, heading into the forest and waiting for some messengers to turn up seems to be a bit of a wild goose chase to me, if not an outright waste of precious time.” “Messengers, soldiers, scouts, anything,” the ranger says, flexing his muscles. “Perhaps the magnitude of the task at hand escapes you, Sir,” Navarre says. “I remind you that we are faced with an enemy with the capacity to strike in force and in many places at once. I assure you that I have seen these forces with my own eyes and I do not hesitate to admit that the six of us would not stand much of a chance in an encounter with even a single unit of these soldiers.” “Have a little faith,” the ranger says. “But we can target only messengers and scouts if you want.” “To what purpose?,” Navarre asks. “Spend days, weeks in a forest in the hopes of some suitable target turning up and then what? Learn things we would also learn if we proceed with our plan? I say we keep to what was agreed. Regroup, assemble an army. Then ride into battle.” “I didn’t agree to anything,” Sir Eber says. “We must move against the enemy as soon as possible. Oerknal here agrees.” “I’m sure he does,” Navarre says, with another doubtful look at the creature. The discussion continues like this for some time until Navarre finally tires of it. Just when he is about to excuse himself, the tavern door is thrown open and the [I]chevalier[/I] emerges, some locals scrambling to keep up with him. “[I]Messieurs!,”[/I] the [I]chevalier[/I] cries. [I]“Aux chevaux!”[/I] Navarre heads back to the [I]Varis[/I] and climbs into his hammock. So much for getting to Big Beach unnoticed. Back on the shore, his noble fellows actually manage to buy a horse and even succeed in getting it on board, eventually. Around midnight, Theresa wakes up again. When she starts screaming again and refuses to shut up, Sir Suvali feeds her some more of her own tea, sending her back to sleep. One hour after midnight, Sir Eber, on deck to keep watch, hears some more riders pass in the forest close to the shore. [B]Day 3:[/B] Navarre wakes up to the smell of bacon and eggs. The novice has been preparing a hearty breakfast and presently the [I]chevalier[/I] compliments her on her efforts. “[I]Madame!,”[/I] he cries. “I have not enjoyed such an excellent breakfast in ages! It goes splendidly with the [I]Lillac!”[/I] After breakfast, Sir Oengus and Sir Suvali get the [I]Varis[/I] moving again and the day passes uneventfully until later that afternoon (16.00 hrs), when our noble heroes spot what appears to be blockade downstream. Two groups of three large barges tied together extend some way into the river, one to each side, effectively blocking both fairways. Several boats and launches are in the water and barges are cuing up to either side, their decks crawling with soldiers. Navarre, who is on deck enjoying one of the excellent bottles of wine with the [I]chevalier,[/I] gets to his feet and notices the banners of Palava on one side of the river and those of Bagabuxsha on the other. “Gentlemen,” he says. “Soldiers ahead.” Sir Oengus is already slowing down the [I]Varis[/I] and presently a small pinnace approaches. Some soldiers are in it, yelling and waving their arms. “Hove-to!,” they holler. “To the side!” Navarre exchanges a look with Sir Oengus, who starts steering the [I]Varis[/I] closer to the shore. “Stay there and see what they want,” Sir Oengus says to Navarre. “Everybody else get down behind the railing and keep your weapons down! We don’t know what side they are on!” “I’d better get below decks,” Sir Oerknal says. “What with all these humanoids about and all that.” “Good thinking,” Sir Suvali calls after him. “And make sure the fat cow doesn’t start screaming again.” When the pinnace comes closer, Navarre clearly recognizes the men on it as Palavan soldiers. “Palava!,” he yells. “Who is in command?” “Captain Belenos, in the name of Palava,” one of the men in the pinnace shouts. “Prepare to be boarded!” “There shall be no boarding!,” Navarre yells back at him. “We bring news from Apple Island and there is no time to lose!” “I have my orders!,” captain Belenos yells. “We will search the barge!” “You shall do nothing of the sort, captain!,” Navarre yells. “I am Navarre Ard Dauberval. Stand down your men!” This seems to throw the captain for a bit and, by the time the answer comes, the pinnace is close enough for people to stop shouting at each other. “It is for you own safety, my Lord,” the captain says, after a good look at Navarre. “I will need to make sure there’s no one hiding below decks with a knife to someone’s throat.” “That is very considerate of you, captain,” Navarre says. “I assure you that nothing of the sort is going on. You have my word.” Then the [I]chevalier[/I] gets up from behind the railing. “[I]Mon capitaine!,”[/I] he cries. “What news of the riders who passed this way?” “They were the King’s men, Sir,” captain Belenos says. “They were headed for Big Beach.” “The King’s men?,” the [I]chevalier[/I] asks. “How so?” “I have been told that they managed to break out of the fortress before the enemy could surround it, Sir.” “[I]Mon cher!,”[/I] the [I]chevalier[/I] cries at Navarre. “There is still hope! The cavalry has survived!” “Is there any news as to who is behind all of this, captain?,” Navarre asks. “They were professional soldiers and bandits, my Lord,” the captain says. “The soldiers were unlike anyone has ever seen. They wore iron plating and wielded pole-axes.” “Any banners?” “The soldiers displayed a black circle,” the captain says. “Who currently speaks for Palava?,” Navarre asks. “It is Lord Corwin, my Lord,” the captain says. “Second nephew to the Duke.” “Where can I find him?” “The fortress, my Lord,” the captain says. “At the next jetty.” “Thank you, captain,” Navarre says. “Carry on!” *[SIZE=3] This is a play on the title of a Dutch translation of Jack Vance’s novel [I][U]Showboat World[/U][/I] (Pyramid Books, 1975)[/SIZE] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
An Adventure in Five Acts (AD&D 2E) (Final Update 25 Feb 2023)
Top