(Casual D&D) A Game of Trust
- Thread starter Guilt Puppy
- Start date
dpdx
Explorer
"It would seem we're all in agreement, then, Pelor be praised. Come, let's pack up, and get ready to ride."
Fendric picks up his pack, straps it on, and heads outside to the horses. As he reaches the door, he turns back toward the Heironians. "If any of you can issue a sending to Father Premule, I'd suggest you do so. Tell him help is on the way, and to pray to his God that we get to him before they do. Blessings upon you all, and we'll see you at sunset."
Fendric will expect to find Sunray in the stables at this Temple, and at least two other horses for Nurthk and Hiritus. If Niccolo joins him, he'll assist the gnome up to ride with him. Once everyone is mounted, he'll ride with them for the North gate.
Fendric picks up his pack, straps it on, and heads outside to the horses. As he reaches the door, he turns back toward the Heironians. "If any of you can issue a sending to Father Premule, I'd suggest you do so. Tell him help is on the way, and to pray to his God that we get to him before they do. Blessings upon you all, and we'll see you at sunset."
Fendric will expect to find Sunray in the stables at this Temple, and at least two other horses for Nurthk and Hiritus. If Niccolo joins him, he'll assist the gnome up to ride with him. Once everyone is mounted, he'll ride with them for the North gate.
Uriel
Living EN World Judge
Grumbling at being broke, and unable to afford a Pony, Niccolo gabs his pack, prepared to head out once again.
OoC: I can't seem to find a note on any money we have found/earned anywhere, dpdx, any idea? 3.5 wouldlet me wear armor, and I could most likely afford leather now...
OoC: I can't seem to find a note on any money we have found/earned anywhere, dpdx, any idea? 3.5 wouldlet me wear armor, and I could most likely afford leather now...
Guilt Puppy
First Post
(OOC - The only "reward" I can recall is the 24 gp allotted to Niccolo for performances during the downtime... I'm not trying to keep you guys poor or anything, I just haven't had much cause to drop gold in your laps. As I've said before, if your characters need some more cash, they're welcome to go out and get some, and I'll be as accomodating as I reasonably can be... And yes, I know that creates some conflict with time-management in-game -- but that's in your hands, not mine 
)
Following some further preparations (PHB prices for any equip; ask about special orders), you group heads off to the Northeast -- taking the North road for a ways, then veering off on an old worn pile of packed dirt which may have once passed for a road. The countryside, if you can call it that, is barren -- not dry, exactly, but still there are only small, sparse patches of brush and trees, their leaves more black than green, the limbs bone white. You travel through more than one abandoned town -- although it is sometimes difficult to tell where one begins and another ends -- and you could almost wonder if you might already have passed Haddal, as the sun sinks lower and lower.
Finally, though, what directions you can find from the harmless-looking commoners of Bethel prove accurate enough: You see the old town, resting in an odd pit of earth, a circle of no more than a mile in diameter -- possibly less -- sunken below the surrounding flatness. An old sign marker resting against one of the bone-bushes removes all doubt: You have arrived in Haddal. The letters have been bent and curled from iron rods in an ornate script, and framed with a complex swirl of metalwork. This town's grandeur, however, clearly began and ended with this signpost: Beyond, the buildings are simple and functional, showing next to no sign of age but still seeming old indeed, stripped bare (or, more likely, built bare) of any youthful vanities.
From a distance, the city's Temple to Pelor could easily be mistaken for a storehouse or granary: The thick hide shutters on top of the building seem a little out of place, but aside from that the bar white-clay walls are wholly typical of the town. It is only the holy symbol on the door that gives it away, and even this is less than splendrous: It is carved, no, hacked out of some thick wood, protected with a thin coat of the whitish clay that makes it look horribly dusty. It's all wrong, on top of that -- the beams of His Fiery Mane look more like lightning bolts, and there are only seven of them; his eyelids are omitted, his gaze turned into a pair of maniacal diamonds with mismatched pupils; and, most strange of all, his mouth is open, and a row of teeth are showing... The carving is so indistinct, it is hard to tell if the people who made it meant to show him smiling, or grimacing with pain... It is, at least, unnerving, especially as his True face disappears over the horizon.
Hiritus seems to be somewhat offended by this, but by no means disturbed -- he strides confidently to the door and finds it opens quite easily. The basement is easy to find, a staircase behind a hide curtain leads down to it, and to a few of Premule's faithful, already assembled... Five, precisely.
Among them is the young man who approached you in the morning. He introduces you to his companions: Laam, a skinny, nervous-looking fellow; Balger, whose well-tended beard could make a dwarven King jealous; Shavah, the only woman among these five, and the only half-elf as well; and Lucian, a confident young man with an equally confident greatsword tilted across his back. Finally, the one who first approached you introduces himself: Lanatus, the first son of his father who was the first son of his father, back like that for five generations, all of whom had pledged their lives in service to Heironeous and to Bethel.
"In that order," he insists.
"We're all a bit divided in ourselves, I think" Lucian adds thoughtfully. "We have pledged our service to the Visach, as well as to Father Premule... By the laws of Bethel, our oath to Cheraul supercedes, but for those of us who've come --" he looks around at the other, who seem to silently agree -- "the laws of Heironeous supercede even that."
"These should be seven more," Lanatus explains. "I didn't mention it to any of the higher-ups -- didn't want them implicated in anything, if we fail, so they'll be around to rebuild what they can. But those seven can catch up when they arrive..." His voice lowers slightly. "We should discuss our plan."
It is confusing for a moment, but soon it becomes clear: These five, at least, are looking to the four of you for leadership.
)Following some further preparations (PHB prices for any equip; ask about special orders), you group heads off to the Northeast -- taking the North road for a ways, then veering off on an old worn pile of packed dirt which may have once passed for a road. The countryside, if you can call it that, is barren -- not dry, exactly, but still there are only small, sparse patches of brush and trees, their leaves more black than green, the limbs bone white. You travel through more than one abandoned town -- although it is sometimes difficult to tell where one begins and another ends -- and you could almost wonder if you might already have passed Haddal, as the sun sinks lower and lower.
Finally, though, what directions you can find from the harmless-looking commoners of Bethel prove accurate enough: You see the old town, resting in an odd pit of earth, a circle of no more than a mile in diameter -- possibly less -- sunken below the surrounding flatness. An old sign marker resting against one of the bone-bushes removes all doubt: You have arrived in Haddal. The letters have been bent and curled from iron rods in an ornate script, and framed with a complex swirl of metalwork. This town's grandeur, however, clearly began and ended with this signpost: Beyond, the buildings are simple and functional, showing next to no sign of age but still seeming old indeed, stripped bare (or, more likely, built bare) of any youthful vanities.
From a distance, the city's Temple to Pelor could easily be mistaken for a storehouse or granary: The thick hide shutters on top of the building seem a little out of place, but aside from that the bar white-clay walls are wholly typical of the town. It is only the holy symbol on the door that gives it away, and even this is less than splendrous: It is carved, no, hacked out of some thick wood, protected with a thin coat of the whitish clay that makes it look horribly dusty. It's all wrong, on top of that -- the beams of His Fiery Mane look more like lightning bolts, and there are only seven of them; his eyelids are omitted, his gaze turned into a pair of maniacal diamonds with mismatched pupils; and, most strange of all, his mouth is open, and a row of teeth are showing... The carving is so indistinct, it is hard to tell if the people who made it meant to show him smiling, or grimacing with pain... It is, at least, unnerving, especially as his True face disappears over the horizon.
Hiritus seems to be somewhat offended by this, but by no means disturbed -- he strides confidently to the door and finds it opens quite easily. The basement is easy to find, a staircase behind a hide curtain leads down to it, and to a few of Premule's faithful, already assembled... Five, precisely.
Among them is the young man who approached you in the morning. He introduces you to his companions: Laam, a skinny, nervous-looking fellow; Balger, whose well-tended beard could make a dwarven King jealous; Shavah, the only woman among these five, and the only half-elf as well; and Lucian, a confident young man with an equally confident greatsword tilted across his back. Finally, the one who first approached you introduces himself: Lanatus, the first son of his father who was the first son of his father, back like that for five generations, all of whom had pledged their lives in service to Heironeous and to Bethel.
"In that order," he insists.
"We're all a bit divided in ourselves, I think" Lucian adds thoughtfully. "We have pledged our service to the Visach, as well as to Father Premule... By the laws of Bethel, our oath to Cheraul supercedes, but for those of us who've come --" he looks around at the other, who seem to silently agree -- "the laws of Heironeous supercede even that."
"These should be seven more," Lanatus explains. "I didn't mention it to any of the higher-ups -- didn't want them implicated in anything, if we fail, so they'll be around to rebuild what they can. But those seven can catch up when they arrive..." His voice lowers slightly. "We should discuss our plan."
It is confusing for a moment, but soon it becomes clear: These five, at least, are looking to the four of you for leadership.
Uriel
Living EN World Judge
OoC: I wasn't complaining,GP. Niccolo was jus being snippy 
IC: Wiping dust away from his scarf and jacket, Nico smiles briefly at these folk, then looks to his Violin, making sure that the damnable horse's jostling hadn't done any damage. Tuning it and running through a few scales, the Gnome finally leaves off it (placing it back in it's case) and turns back to the assembled folk.'Well, then. Why don't you spell out the problem for us, so as best to aid you in your plight. Details are important, oh, and do you have any tea?'
IC: Wiping dust away from his scarf and jacket, Nico smiles briefly at these folk, then looks to his Violin, making sure that the damnable horse's jostling hadn't done any damage. Tuning it and running through a few scales, the Gnome finally leaves off it (placing it back in it's case) and turns back to the assembled folk.'Well, then. Why don't you spell out the problem for us, so as best to aid you in your plight. Details are important, oh, and do you have any tea?'
dpdx
Explorer
Fendric returns the introductions, pointing out Nurthk, Niccolo, and Hiritus. At Niccolo's comment, Fendric winces. "Forgive my friend, he's obviously a wee bit groggy, still, from the ride. So, anyway, we believe Father Premule to be captured and held prisoner in the woods, possibly to be put to death, and we intend to free him. Further, we believe the cult of Nerull to be responsible, and either aided by the Capitol guard and clergy of Wee Jas, or to be deluding same into thinking that this is a proper course of action regarding Father Premule."
"We should also tell you about our quest, which took us to Jance and Bethel in the first place. We originally rode with Sir Exantrius, and assisted him with his quest, which was to stop the spread of sedition and conflict issuing from a fallen member of his Order, a Sir Thedoric. To that end, he had a series of letters to deliver to important people in the land, and Father Premule was one of the recipients.
With Sir Exantrius' passing from age not a few days ago, that quest has now become ours, and Niccolo and I are the remaining members of that original group.
We've managed to deliver letters to two of those recipients: Father Premule, and the Visach. We left Father Premule's letter in Jance, but then found him on our visit to Bethel to deliver the letter to the Visach. We believe, but don't know for sure, that Father Premule was able to read this letter before his capture. So when we find him, may the Light make it so, I should like to inquire about that."
"We should also tell you about our quest, which took us to Jance and Bethel in the first place. We originally rode with Sir Exantrius, and assisted him with his quest, which was to stop the spread of sedition and conflict issuing from a fallen member of his Order, a Sir Thedoric. To that end, he had a series of letters to deliver to important people in the land, and Father Premule was one of the recipients.
With Sir Exantrius' passing from age not a few days ago, that quest has now become ours, and Niccolo and I are the remaining members of that original group.
We've managed to deliver letters to two of those recipients: Father Premule, and the Visach. We left Father Premule's letter in Jance, but then found him on our visit to Bethel to deliver the letter to the Visach. We believe, but don't know for sure, that Father Premule was able to read this letter before his capture. So when we find him, may the Light make it so, I should like to inquire about that."
Uriel
Living EN World Judge
Looking a bit sheepish, Niccolo smiles and apologises 'Yes, Good Folk, please forgive my rudeness. In fact, I would like to apologize with a Verse... 'Beloved Spring'
'Now Come am I to the Land of the Dead,
Whilst Icy Hoar holds all in it's grip,
A blush and a yawn and all returns to Life,
When Green returns to the World once again,
My Brothers are Lords of the Warmth and the Cold,
My Sister, a Maiden of Passing things,
Yet all rejoice when I open my eyes,
For once again has returned Beloved Spring.
''Well, yes, that is the best that can conjure without breakfast at the least'
Niccolo nibbles on a bit of waybread and awaits input from the others assembled.
OoC:OK, so I just made it up...
'Now Come am I to the Land of the Dead,
Whilst Icy Hoar holds all in it's grip,
A blush and a yawn and all returns to Life,
When Green returns to the World once again,
My Brothers are Lords of the Warmth and the Cold,
My Sister, a Maiden of Passing things,
Yet all rejoice when I open my eyes,
For once again has returned Beloved Spring.
''Well, yes, that is the best that can conjure without breakfast at the least'
Niccolo nibbles on a bit of waybread and awaits input from the others assembled.
OoC:OK, so I just made it up...
Guilt Puppy
First Post
Most of the Heironian's seem confused at Niccolo's response; Shavah, for her part, seems amused.
Lucian is the first to speak.
"My guess would be that they'll stay off the roads... They probably expect for someone to come to his aid, he was a well-respected man after all. I'd imagine they'd get to the river as quickly as possible... Even south of the Derah, it's still a fairly quiet waterway. Most people fear it."
"Not we!" Hiritus adds, raising his arm and finding only forced agreement.
A shuffling is heard overhead, and three more young guardsmen arrive: The Gammon brothers, they introduce, Elo and Kim, the gaunt twins, and Vitz, their older and much heavier muscled brother. They are updated on the situation, and wait with the others for your plans.
Lucian is the first to speak.
"My guess would be that they'll stay off the roads... They probably expect for someone to come to his aid, he was a well-respected man after all. I'd imagine they'd get to the river as quickly as possible... Even south of the Derah, it's still a fairly quiet waterway. Most people fear it."
"Not we!" Hiritus adds, raising his arm and finding only forced agreement.
A shuffling is heard overhead, and three more young guardsmen arrive: The Gammon brothers, they introduce, Elo and Kim, the gaunt twins, and Vitz, their older and much heavier muscled brother. They are updated on the situation, and wait with the others for your plans.
Festy_Dog
First Post
Back to hunting down wanted men, wanted for one reason or another anyway. So much for taking a break from work, better get back into that frame of mind, they want a plan.
"If they're travelling by river they'll probably have a considerable lead on us, but their points of exit and course would be restricted. My suggestion is we find out where along the river they're most likely to board ship, and try to beat them there. If we fail in that we can always try to determine which way they went and go from there. Any idea on where they were headed specifically?" Nurthk says, his gaze falling on each of the people here in turn.
"If they're travelling by river they'll probably have a considerable lead on us, but their points of exit and course would be restricted. My suggestion is we find out where along the river they're most likely to board ship, and try to beat them there. If we fail in that we can always try to determine which way they went and go from there. Any idea on where they were headed specifically?" Nurthk says, his gaze falling on each of the people here in turn.
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