Company of the Random Encounter ('complete' 14 Nov 2004)

Mantreus: The Three Stooges? Nah, you're more like the Marx Brothers :D

Arwink: you might want to work on that sales pitch ... seems a little rusty!

In celebration of the boards being back, I'll post an update.
 

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Amberdale 0 : "An Introduction to Amberdale" by PDabble Games - Part 19

The next day passed uneventfully - a surprising but welcome change of pace for the adventurers, who have been kept busy for almost every waking moment since their arrival in town. Amberdale is filled to overflowing as the Harvest Festival draws nearer, and the group begins to see why this is such a busy time of year for the guards. A veritable shanty-town of tents grows up around the outskirts of the village, more than doubling the population, and vastly increasing the proportion of shysters, rogues and mercenaries of all stripes.

The High Priest of Pelor arrives the next morning, and promptly summons the group to discuss the terms for healing Gabrielle and Ulfgar, still confined to the Sanctuary due to their infected wounds from the wererat.

The group blanches when told the price of the healing: 500 gold per person.

"Surely there must be some alternative?" the Padre suggests, knowing full well that they do not have the coin to pay the fee, and doubtful that they could raise it in time, even if they were willing to sell the magical items they had found.

"Mayhap there is." the High Priest nods, "You have proven yourself doughty adventurers, and such skills as you possess can often be useful to my church. I will waive the fee to heal your companions, provided that in return for each healing, you agree to conduct one mission for the Church of Pelor."

There is a brief discussion, but the group knows that they need the healing, and that they have no other options. Taking solace from the fact that the Church is renowned as a force for good throughout the Duchy, the company agrees to the terms they have been offered. By sundown, Ulfgar and Gabrielle have been released from seclusion, and are ready once more to adventure.

While waiting for the return of their friends, the Padre focuses his magic on the enchanted shield and earrings that they captured from the robbers. After subjecting each item to careful scrutiny, he reports his findings,

"The shield offers enhanced protection, though the magic is only weak. The earrings have some kind of alteration magic on them. Again, the magic is fairly weak. I suspect that the shield is a typical example of a minor magical device, but I am not sure of the earrings function."

As the Padre is the only person to use a shield amongst those who were involved in defeating the robbers, it is resolved that he should receive the item, while the earrings are put aside until they can be more thoroughly identified. While testing the weight of his new shield on his arm, the Padre reveals that he has a proposal:

"As we have worked together very well in the last few days, I think we should form ourselves into an adventuring group." He explains, "Something by which we can be known - especially when the bards start telling tales of us. I thought that, since we all met by chance, we could call ourselves the Company of the Random Encounter."

"I like it." Mantreus grins. Ming Li merely nods silently, while Ulfgar growls an affirmative. None of the others voice an objection, and so the name is adopted. Only time will tell if it will be a name that is remembered, or just the sobriquet of another forgotten band.
 

Capellan said:
Arwink: you might want to work on that sales pitch ... seems a little rusty!

Doesn't everyone want to share a bedroll with a kobold? :)

I'm having a bit of trouble keeping up with the current line-up. Are people still shifting in and out of the group every session?
 

arwink said:
I'm having a bit of trouble keeping up with the current line-up. Are people still shifting in and out of the group every session?

Yes, they are.

The reason there are a lot of characters running around in the last post is that it's covering some "between session house-keeping": we've just hit the end of the 2nd session played.

It should be obvious who is actually "active" when I start the next adventure's write-up, but if it continues to be a problem let me know and I'll think about ways to clarify it.
 

Misadventures!

Hi there everyone, just Padre Wolfgang Priem here.

Just as a follow up to my mate, Matreus, Cappellan has tacken quite a few liberties with the story. You all know the saying "don't let the truth get in the way of a good story". That said, I must admit the whole incident with the cat was definately rather sad, but in my defence we all agreed at the moment that it may have been an egg sack and we didn't want take any risks. The fact that I actually hate cats has never entered into the equation :rolleyes:

Anyway, I just want to say that so far the game as whole has been marvellous, though rather novel in the amount of players participating! Unfortunately, my tenure of being the only religeous support is about to end (as a new player is about to join).

The Padre
 

Re: Misadventures!

The Padre said:
Just as a follow up to my mate, Matreus, Cappellan has tacken quite a few liberties with the story. You all know the saying "don't let the truth get in the way of a good story". That said, I must admit the whole incident with the cat was definately rather sad, but in my defence we all agreed at the moment that it may have been an egg sack and we didn't want take any risks. The fact that I actually hate cats has never entered into the equation :rolleyes:

Geez, he couldn't spell either of our names right, Mantreus. What are we to do with the boy?

I love the implication that there was a rational conversation about whether to burn the "egg sac" or not. From my side of the table, it looked more like a mad dash to light the wick :p

As a note for all my concerned readers (both of you!), I'll mention that I try to keep the facts of what the party did as accurate as possible, whatever aspersions my players may make to the contrary. Any factual errors are generally caused by the that I don't take any notes.

I do, however, give myself carte blanche when it comes to interpreting the facts. :D

Still, if any player wants to chip in with their version of events, they're welcome to do so. It'll give people both sides of the story.

Just try not to talk about things I haven't posted yet. You wouldn't want to ruin the surprises, would you?
 

Geez, he couldn't spell either of our names right, Mantreus. What are we to do with the boy?
He was probably so overcome with the indignity of it all that he couldn't type straight ;)
That said, I must admit the whole incident with the cat was definately rather sad, but in my defence we all agreed at the moment that it may have been an egg sack and we didn't want take any risks.
I must say that I agreed with The Padre at that point but as soon as we'd done it I realised what it could have been... of course it was too late by then.

The looks on everyones faces were priceless however :D
Unfortunately, my tenure of being the only religeous support is about to end (as a new player is about to join).
No offense Padre, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Your brand of religon can be a tad scary at times ;) And what if your otherwise engaged?
Besides, Capellans prepping to be thrown into one of the more...well, lets say disfunctional...adventuring parties I've seen.
I hope there is a story hour for this Arwink, so I can pick on Capellan :D
 

Mantreus said:
I hope there is a story hour for this Arwink, so I can pick on Capellan :D

It's in the sig.

It's probably still a dozen updates away from the point where he'll be joining though.

And since when do egg sacs wiggle? (before they hatch, anyway...)
 

Re: Misadventures!

The Padre said:
The fact that I actually hate cats has never entered into the equation :rolleyes:

Bad Padre! No Miracle! :)

Anyway, I just want to say that so far the game as whole has been marvellous, though rather novel in the amount of players participating!

You should consider yourself lucky. Our game's been dormant for the last year because we couldn't get the requisite four together to run the adventure module.

In any case, it's a fun read, and it moves along quickly with still enough backstory to read like it's not happening in a vacuum. Kudos to the players for their 'interesting' decisions, and to the DM/Author for a good Story Hour.
 

Amberdale 0 : "An Introduction to Amberdale" by PDabble Games - Part 20

That night, the Padre retreats into his room to fast and pray.

"I will remain within for 72 hours." He informs Brent Birchwhistle, the owner of the inn. "I shall require nothing during this time, and am not to be disturbed. I must re-dedicate myself to my god. I feel that recent events have expanded my understanding of Saint Cuthbert's teachings. I must take the time to fully absorb this new knowledge."

Brent, evidently used to the foibles of adventurers, merely nods.

"I'll let the staff know." he promises.

Meanwhile, Stormstrider is preparing to set out into the forests surrounding Amberdale. The ranger has grown more restless as the number of people in the village has increased, and clearly feels the need to retreat into the wilderness for some solitude.

"The trees call me." He explains to Elspeth, who nods her understanding. "I can feel them. And I can feel the creatures that move among them - feel them more keenly than I ever could before. It is like a cool fire, running through my veins. There is a power welling up in me, and I have to go out there, if I want to release it."

At first, Mantreus scoffs at the normally taciturn ranger's remarks: but then he meets Shadow.

The soot-black cat appears in his room - seemingly out of nowhere, as the door and window are both closed. At first, the rogue tries to chase this unexpected visitor off. However, the strange feline appears unimpressed by his arm flapping and "shoo" noises.

His patience wearing thin, Mantreus finally reaches down to grab the animal and forcibly remove it - and sparks of energy leap from his fingers.

Stepping back and staring at his fingers in surprise, Mantreus glances back at the cat. Their eyes meet, and suddenly the rogue knows the power inside him: sees and understands it for the first time. He will spend the next few days experimenting with it, until he can conjure the magical energies as and when he wishes, directing them as he desires.

But while the three are engaged in learning their new skills, the call of adventure comes once more for their companions ...


[DM's note: as you've probably guessed, these three characters have gone up a level. I'll post their updated stats in the Rogue's Gallery at some point, but probably not until after I've done the stat blocks for the newcomers in the next adventure.]
 

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