CLOSED! Rhun's Greyhawk OMEGA Game (ToEE)

[Rhun]

Back in Hommlet, Deren and Aeron visit the local blacksmith about having their armor resized. Brother Smythe, as he is called, is happy to help out, and thinks he can have the mithril shirt resized in a couple of hours, and Aeron's new plate armor by the end of the day. After taking the required measurements and such, the smith gets to work, and the groups goes about selling what they can of the loot to the trader and various merchantfolk who have their businesses in the village.

During this time, Jebediah interrogates the latest batch of prisoners.




OOC: More to come tonight, most like. I'm assuming Deren and Aeron are alright with spending the cash to get the armor resized (110gp for Deren's, 165gp for Aeron's - I'm just doing a flat 10%, instead of the 2-800 gp thing).

 

[Rhun]

Jebediah conducts his interrogation, but he doesn't learn much. The bandit lieutenant knows only a little of what the Master's plans were, and the lesser bandits know even less. It seems as though your conjecture was correct; the bandits were fleeing toward Nulb, and the ruins of the Temple of Elemental Evil. The lieutenant informs you that the village of Nulb is residence of a variety of unwholesome folk...bandits, river pirates, thieves and smugglers all call the place home. The lieutenenat knows that the Master meant to stop in Nulb, to recruit more men for his cause, and he had spoken of returning to retake the moathouse.

You learn that the ruins of the Temple of Elemental Evil lie near Nulb, only a few miles outside of the village. Although the lieutenant doesn't know who is in residence there at the time, he knows that there are at least some bandits there, as the Master had sent missives by way of courier several times.

 

[Lord_Raven88]

Once all have returned to Burnes tower, Jebediah calls everyone to the room put aside for there investigation.

Looking around at his companions and their host Lord Burne Jebediah addresses the group "Despite our success in clearing out the Moathouse, we're still not much closer in discovering what is happening in the Temple, or in unearthing what agents the Temple has in Hommlett or Nulb. As such I have a plan which will potentially help to flush out some of the Temples agents in Hommlett."

"I propose that we spend some of our hard earned gold on having a celebratory party for the entire town, during the party we will play the part of boastful arrogant adventurers and regale everyone with our outlandish exploits in defeating the bandit hoard and the slaying of Lareth the Beautiful"

"If there are indeed any agents of the Temple, then I may be able to discover who they are during the revelry, also once they learn of the defeat of Lareth, no doubt they will want to inform the leaders of the temple as well as enact a measure of revenge upon us."

"As such it is my intention to kindly ask Lord Burne for the use of some of his soldiers, to lay in wait on the road to Nulb, there they will detain and search any who might be travelling that road. Also I suggest they we get rip roaringly 'drunk' so that we might make tempting targets for any who'd seek revenge later that night"

"If all of this fails to arouse a reaction then I say we head to either Nulb or the Temple itself to further our investigation."

"On to another matter I think it would be prudent of us to continue to store and preserve Lareths body, the last thing we need is for it to be recovered and returned to life."

[sblock=Rhun: ]Did Jebediah discover any written information amongst the wagon of the recovered loot.

Also did you take into account Jebediah using his new 'Read Thoughts' and 'Suggestions' powers, when doing the interrogation, in particular did the LT know the names of any of Lareths contacts in Nulb.[/sblock]

 

[Dichotomy]

"My friend," Aeron says sincerely, "you have quite the gift of insight regarding the minds of our foes. Your plan is a good one. And, I daresay, expressing joy at the defeat of Lareth will probably not be too difficult a task."
[sblock=OOC]I'm certainly willing to spend the 165 gp to resize the armor, assuming that however we distribute our current loot will allow it.[/sblock]

 

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

Zirat

Let us cheer to a wise idea, ages passed since I had a good party with meat and ales.
Zirat replies with a smile
Pack up my stomach with tasty food is necessary prior to a trip to a bandit infested town.

 

[Rhun]

Burne strokes his spade-shaped beard as he thinks about Jebediah's idea. "I think your plan is quite brilliant," he says after a moment. "My only concern is about searching travelers on the road. My men could do it, to be sure, but I'm not sure how the Viscount would feel about such a thing. And there are numerous tracks through the fens and woods between here and Nulb that a bandit or such could travel. Let me ponder on this some..."

"Still, the idea of a party is excellent. The Inn is obviously the place to do such a thing, as between the common area and the yard there should be plenty of room for revelers to congregate."

[sblock=OOC]
There were no written items among what was recovered in the wagon. If Lareth kept any type of documents, he must have hidden them elsewhere. Or perhaps he was too shrewd to keep written notes of what he was up to?

On the "Read Thoughts" and "Suggestion" thing, I did remember Jeb's powers...I just didn't know how much deatil you wanted. I'll make a supplemental post with more info tonight or this weekend.

[/sblock]

 

[Voadam]

"The most direct way to find out what is going on in the temple is to go there directly. Spies are but the eyes and ears, and we want the heart. A party to celebrate us as heroes will tip off the spies to our success and, unless we catch them all immediately, alert our enemies that we are coming. None escaped us from Lareth's wagon train and so no word has yet gotten to whoever Lareth's accomplices are. For all they know a dragon ate his wagon en route. I do not think we will have a similar chance to engage enemies in the temple with surprise.?"

 

[Rhun]

From what Jebediah can tell, the lieutenant (whose name is Almir) truly did not know much of Lareth's plans. He knew that they had been sent to the Moathouse to try to rebuild a force of men and humanoid warriors to help restore the Temple of Elemental Evil to its former glory. As far as contacts go, the lieutenant knows a few names, though he has never met the people in question. He provides the following info:

Smigmal Redhand is a bandit leader, and often coordinates important raids.
Barkinar, in charge of Temple troops.
Deggum, a recruit of Lareth's who now holds a position of power in the Temple hiearchy.
Hedrack, the Supreme Commander of the Temple of Elemental Evil.

While missives and meetings would often take place either in Nulb or at various rendevous around the area, Almir does not know where these persons dwell. They could be in Nulb, or somewhere within the ruins of the Temple itself.

 

[Rhun]

Day 4, Night

As you discuss your next course of action, Lord Burne snaps his fingers as if remembering something. He removes a scroll tube from a hidden pocket within his velvet robes and hands the item to Jebediah. "If it is your intent to investigate the rumors of evil in the area, and you seek to visit the ruins of the Temple, this may be of some help. I'm not sure who penned it, or where it even came from for that matter, but it speaks of how to ultimately end the threat of the Temple of Elemental Evil..." Burne shrugs. "Of course, it could just be someone's imaginings, as well."

The paper within looks to be a few years old, the ink faded. Still deciperable though, and written upon the parchment in a flowery handwriting, is a poem that reads:

"The Two united in the past,
a place to build, and spells to cast.
Their power grew, and took the land
and people round, as they had planned.

A key without a lock they made
of gold and gems, and overlaid
with spells, a tool for men to wield
to force the powers of Good to yield.

But armies came, their weapons bared,
while evil was yet unprepared.
The Hart was followed by the Crowns
and Moon, and people of the towns.

The two were split; one got away
but She, when came the judgment day,
did break the key, and sent the rocks
to boxes four, with magic locks.

In doing so, She fell behind
as He escaped. She was confined
among Her own; her very lair
became her prison and despair.

The Place was ruined, torn apart
and left with chains around the heart
of evil power - but the key
was never found in the debris.

He knows not where She dwells today,
She set the minions' path, the way
To lift Her Temple high again
With tools of flesh, with mortal men

Many now have gone to die
in water, flame, in earth, or sky.
They did not bear the key of old
that must be found - the orb of gold.

Beware, my friend, for you shall fall
unless you have the wherewithal
to find and search the boxes four
and then escape forevermore.

But with the key, you might succeed
in throwing down Her power and greed.
Destroy the key when you are done
and then rejoice, the battle won."

 

[Voadam]

"Supreme commander. It sounds like this Hedrak is a general then, and the heart of the cult we should strike at."

Sir Merrick paces a little as he thinks and plans, "There may be spies here in Hommlette, there may be cult agents in Nulb. It is certain though that the Temple is something we must investigate and deal with. I suggest we focus our efforts there. Lord Krane, is there any evidence the cultists know us and would have alerted the others to our threat to them? If not then we can journey to Nulb, establish ourselves as mercenaries/bandits looking for work and people to fence goods to and their agent may contact us. We would keep our ears open for any of these cult personages but not tip our hand by asking about them directly. We would appear as if we headed out for banditry while actually investigating the Temple. This would give us a chance to come upon the Temple and strike while they are not yet expecting us."