Jon Potter
First Post
drnuncheon said:
Well, I started with the stats for them given in the MM2.
J
Since I don't own the MM2, I had no idea that they had made the leap to 3E.
Just one more reason to pick up the book, I guess.
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NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
drnuncheon's Freeport Story Hour - Book II: Inheritance
- Thread starter drnuncheon
- Start date
Since I don't own the MM2, I had no idea that they had made the leap to 3E.
Just one more reason to pick up the book, I guess.
drnuncheon
Explorer
Interludes and Conversations
Compiler's Note: Chronologically, this interlude would have occured several weeks ago. I was going to save some of the events in here for revelation in the main storyline, but it won't hurt anything to put them in here.
"Gaberk." The voice is soft, strained, as if its owner struggled to speak.
"Yes, my lord." Rough, this one, rough and deep.
"Why has he not visited? Why has he not written?"
"I do not know, my lord. There have been no messengers with a reply from your nephew. Perhaps the captain we hired to take the missive forgot it, or lost it, or was lost himself."
"Send me Ivanior."
"As you wish, my lord."
Footsteps, then silence, and then a third voice, soft as silk. "My lord?"
"I do not trust Gaberk. Take up your pen."
Below the city, they gathered, moving through hidden ways and sluggish waters. They answered a call, unheard but felt, and it brought them together. Secret signs scratched on stone drew them inward, subtle scents led them on as they tasted the air with their tongues.
At last, they came to rest, in a smooth-walled cavern beneath the streets above, its walls covered with murals of glory. There they met with the others, under the baleful gaze of their god and his prophet, and there they remained.
Waiting.
"Good work, Watch-Lieutenant Lukin. You and your team are a credit to the force." A pause. "Still no sign of them?"
"No, sir - and that's the last of the slave ships we've been able to find operating in the city."
"All right. I'm reassigning the Special Crimes Unit."
"Captain-"
"No arguments. It's been four months, and still no sign of them. This is important, too."
"What is it?"
"Grave robbers. Several tombs have been desecrated, and whoever is doing it has hit Watch End as well."
"Watch End? They're not doing it for the money..."
"No. The bodies."
He never seemed so old before, the young elf reflected. So old, so tired. This has been harder on him than even I realized. For a moment, he felt sympathy welling up inside him, but he forced it back. Concentrate on the job at hand.
The older elf looked at him. "A bow, Enialis? And a blade?"
"My training has not made me forget my heritage altogether," he replied with a smile. "And even though you will not tell me where we are bound, your actions tell me it is a place of great danger. We may be glad of them before this is through."
The older elf nodded, turning back to the blades arrayed on his desk. Slowly, with infinite care, he slipped them into hidden sheaths until all had vanished. "We will not be traveling as ourselves. It would be...impolitic of me to be seen on the streets of Highgate."
"Highgate?"
"A necessary stop on our journey."
"And you want nobody following you."
"Just so." The older elf's hands floated over the collection of mementos that decorated his office, resting briefly on an ornately carved harp that seemed to sigh at his touch, then moving to a long, flat case almost hidden behind a shelf. Placing it on his desk, he opened it, withdrew the silver-handled cane within, and inspected the blade it contained.
"Tensin..."
The older elf looked up.
"We will find her."
Compiler's Note: Chronologically, this interlude would have occured several weeks ago. I was going to save some of the events in here for revelation in the main storyline, but it won't hurt anything to put them in here.
"Gaberk." The voice is soft, strained, as if its owner struggled to speak.
"Yes, my lord." Rough, this one, rough and deep.
"Why has he not visited? Why has he not written?"
"I do not know, my lord. There have been no messengers with a reply from your nephew. Perhaps the captain we hired to take the missive forgot it, or lost it, or was lost himself."
"Send me Ivanior."
"As you wish, my lord."
Footsteps, then silence, and then a third voice, soft as silk. "My lord?"
"I do not trust Gaberk. Take up your pen."
Below the city, they gathered, moving through hidden ways and sluggish waters. They answered a call, unheard but felt, and it brought them together. Secret signs scratched on stone drew them inward, subtle scents led them on as they tasted the air with their tongues.
At last, they came to rest, in a smooth-walled cavern beneath the streets above, its walls covered with murals of glory. There they met with the others, under the baleful gaze of their god and his prophet, and there they remained.
Waiting.
"Good work, Watch-Lieutenant Lukin. You and your team are a credit to the force." A pause. "Still no sign of them?"
"No, sir - and that's the last of the slave ships we've been able to find operating in the city."
"All right. I'm reassigning the Special Crimes Unit."
"Captain-"
"No arguments. It's been four months, and still no sign of them. This is important, too."
"What is it?"
"Grave robbers. Several tombs have been desecrated, and whoever is doing it has hit Watch End as well."
"Watch End? They're not doing it for the money..."
"No. The bodies."
He never seemed so old before, the young elf reflected. So old, so tired. This has been harder on him than even I realized. For a moment, he felt sympathy welling up inside him, but he forced it back. Concentrate on the job at hand.
The older elf looked at him. "A bow, Enialis? And a blade?"
"My training has not made me forget my heritage altogether," he replied with a smile. "And even though you will not tell me where we are bound, your actions tell me it is a place of great danger. We may be glad of them before this is through."
The older elf nodded, turning back to the blades arrayed on his desk. Slowly, with infinite care, he slipped them into hidden sheaths until all had vanished. "We will not be traveling as ourselves. It would be...impolitic of me to be seen on the streets of Highgate."
"Highgate?"
"A necessary stop on our journey."
"And you want nobody following you."
"Just so." The older elf's hands floated over the collection of mementos that decorated his office, resting briefly on an ornately carved harp that seemed to sigh at his touch, then moving to a long, flat case almost hidden behind a shelf. Placing it on his desk, he opened it, withdrew the silver-handled cane within, and inspected the blade it contained.
"Tensin..."
The older elf looked up.
"We will find her."
Jon Potter
First Post
Well, I guess that answers the question: what's happening back at Freeport?
It is sort of depressing to find the SCU being reassigned, but a city like Freeport can't stay quiet for long. At least their new case sounds interesting.
Of the various interludes, I must admit that I'm most intrigued by the one involving what I assume are serpentmen. Are they wondering what happened to Dru or what? Very intriguing. I'm really impressed the way you turned the sacrifice in the sunken temple into a lasting plot point. Very well done.
Does the first interlude feature Di'Fier's ailing uncle that we've heard about but never seen?
And lastly, nice bit of cross-story hour continuity with the harp.
Dang. I'm just full of praise tonight.
It is sort of depressing to find the SCU being reassigned, but a city like Freeport can't stay quiet for long. At least their new case sounds interesting.
Of the various interludes, I must admit that I'm most intrigued by the one involving what I assume are serpentmen. Are they wondering what happened to Dru or what? Very intriguing. I'm really impressed the way you turned the sacrifice in the sunken temple into a lasting plot point. Very well done.
Does the first interlude feature Di'Fier's ailing uncle that we've heard about but never seen?
And lastly, nice bit of cross-story hour continuity with the harp.
Dang. I'm just full of praise tonight.
drnuncheon
Explorer
Jon Potter said:Does the first interlude feature Di'Fier's ailing uncle that we've heard about but never seen?
And lastly, nice bit of cross-story hour continuity with the harp.
It does indeed feature Di'Fier's ailing uncle...you'll find out what the serpent people are up to when Our Heroes make it back...and the harp is not the only piece of crossover continuity. Just a teaser there.
J
drnuncheon
Explorer
Session Twenty-Three, Part Three: Mud Wrestling
Words of magic cracked through the air as Di'Fier unleashed arcane fury on the creature. It turned, slamming Dru to the ground with its tail and slashing three bloody lines across Di'Fier's thigh. The mage's leg buckled, and he crumpled to the ground, sending another volley of magic missiles at the creature.
"There's another one coming!" Shesara warned, ducking under the sweep of a tail. Dru lunged forward as the creature came towards her, driving her blade deep even as it tore at her, howling. She wrapped her arm around the back of its neck and drove her body forward, forcing the blade deeper, then leapt free as it began to sink into the mud.
The others had already turned on the new arrival, sending volley after volley of arrows and magic into the darkness. "Where is it?" shouted Di'Fier. "I can't see it any-"
The mud next to the pathway exploded upwards as the creature burst forth, its tail slamming into Dru, tripartate tendrils curling around her and lifting her into the air like a doll. Her stomach lurched and the cavern swept crazily through her vision as she swung about. She could hear Di'Fier's spell - his last magic missile - and the thrum of bowstrings. She fought against the tail that held her, but it squeezed and twisted, and everything went black.
Di'Fier saw the limp body drop from the tail to splatter into the boiling mud. "DRU!" he screamed, but there was no answer - just his partner bouyed to the surface by the magic of the ring she wore. His eyes blazed as he turned to the monstrosity before him. "Burn," he commanded, and a bolt of green vitriol shot from his hand into the creature's chest, eating through skin and muscle.
Di'Fier could feel the heat rolling off of the boiling mud. He knew that nobody could survive it for long.
He leapt anyway.
Words of magic cracked through the air as Di'Fier unleashed arcane fury on the creature. It turned, slamming Dru to the ground with its tail and slashing three bloody lines across Di'Fier's thigh. The mage's leg buckled, and he crumpled to the ground, sending another volley of magic missiles at the creature.
"There's another one coming!" Shesara warned, ducking under the sweep of a tail. Dru lunged forward as the creature came towards her, driving her blade deep even as it tore at her, howling. She wrapped her arm around the back of its neck and drove her body forward, forcing the blade deeper, then leapt free as it began to sink into the mud.
The others had already turned on the new arrival, sending volley after volley of arrows and magic into the darkness. "Where is it?" shouted Di'Fier. "I can't see it any-"
The mud next to the pathway exploded upwards as the creature burst forth, its tail slamming into Dru, tripartate tendrils curling around her and lifting her into the air like a doll. Her stomach lurched and the cavern swept crazily through her vision as she swung about. She could hear Di'Fier's spell - his last magic missile - and the thrum of bowstrings. She fought against the tail that held her, but it squeezed and twisted, and everything went black.
Di'Fier saw the limp body drop from the tail to splatter into the boiling mud. "DRU!" he screamed, but there was no answer - just his partner bouyed to the surface by the magic of the ring she wore. His eyes blazed as he turned to the monstrosity before him. "Burn," he commanded, and a bolt of green vitriol shot from his hand into the creature's chest, eating through skin and muscle.
Di'Fier could feel the heat rolling off of the boiling mud. He knew that nobody could survive it for long.
He leapt anyway.
drnuncheon
Explorer
Session Twenty-Three, Part Four: Altar of False Gods
The mud grabbed at his skin, burning him through his clothes, but he gritted his teeth and forced his way onward, half walking, half swimming. The stink of it rose into his nostrils. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was aware of the creature falling, but he only registered it as a swell and subsidance in the substance that surrounded him.
His eyes watered. He could barely see.
One hand reached out, brushed cloth, and he seized Dru's shirt, dragging her back, fighting his way towards the narrow limestone path. She was dead weight, unmoving. Gods, let her still live!
The pain was tremendous as the mud blistered his skin, but he forced his way onward through the stinging steam. Something tapped his hand, and he reflexively grabbed at it, then felt himself drawn forward. "Get her out!" he shouted. "Get Dru..."
He felt the weight of her being pulled from his arms, and then hands drawing him forth from the mud. He heard Shesara singing, but the words danced through his brain without connecting to their meaning. He tried to force a question from his lips, but it would not come, and he struggled to remain conscious in the face of the pain.
The singing stopped, and for a moment, so did the world.
Then he heard a familiar voice. "I don't like this place," it growled. And he smiled.
The embers of the platform still smoldered when they returned to the temple, sore, wounded, limping.
"What the hell kind of monster has three tails, anyway? Stupid thing," Dru grumbled. "And my sword's in the bottom of that mudpit."
"It's a good thing you had the ring on, otherwise you'd have been with it," Di'Fier pointed out. "I'm not sure I'd have been able to find you in time. At least you've got Soderheim's sword waiting for you back in Freeport."
Dru grunted, moving towards the smoking ruin. "We can get through this passage, now, if we want."
"Maybe we should wait until we have rested," Benares suggested.
"I want off of this damned island," Dru snarled, and lifted herself upwards, teeth gritted against the pain of burned skin. "City of the Gods." Her words held a century's worth of scorn.
Di'Fier looked at his companions helplessly, and moved to follow her.
The passage curved, twisted deep into the rock. She passed warning-stakes topped with skulls, which she smashed as she went by. And then the tunnel ended, at a small room with a crude altar. Dru could feel her companions behind her, waiting for her anger to subside.
She glared at the altar, looking for an excuse. It was plain, but for the ancient metal case that stood atop it. She moved forward, throwing open the latches to reveal the gleam of gold.
There, in perfect miniature, sat one of the creatures they had fought below, its three tails splayed and its arms stretched outwards. Its arrow-shaped head looked imperiously across the room, and the tiny specks of rubies seemed to bore into her own eyes.
Kneel, it seemed to say. Serve us. You are strong. You will serve well.
Dru gritted her teeth, the anger boiling within her. "I...will...not!" She swept the statuette from the altar, flinging it to the floor where chips of the gilded stone scattered across the room. Di'Fier's blade descended upon it, and a crack spread across its body. Dru seized the pieces in either hand. "I hate this island!" she screamed, dashing one against the wall. "Everything is giant and it tries to eat you or take over you mind!" The second chunk joined the first, shattering again. "Stupid city! This was supposed to be our way off of this stinking place!" Dru seized the case, battering at the stone with it. "Everybody probably thinks we're dead now because some stupid b*st*rd had to sell us into slavery!" The statue was little more that powder now, and Dru flung the metal box aside, sinking down to sit on the stone floor.
Everyone was silent for a moment, and then Benares spoke quietly. "Perhaps...we should rest now."
The mud grabbed at his skin, burning him through his clothes, but he gritted his teeth and forced his way onward, half walking, half swimming. The stink of it rose into his nostrils. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was aware of the creature falling, but he only registered it as a swell and subsidance in the substance that surrounded him.
His eyes watered. He could barely see.
One hand reached out, brushed cloth, and he seized Dru's shirt, dragging her back, fighting his way towards the narrow limestone path. She was dead weight, unmoving. Gods, let her still live!
The pain was tremendous as the mud blistered his skin, but he forced his way onward through the stinging steam. Something tapped his hand, and he reflexively grabbed at it, then felt himself drawn forward. "Get her out!" he shouted. "Get Dru..."
He felt the weight of her being pulled from his arms, and then hands drawing him forth from the mud. He heard Shesara singing, but the words danced through his brain without connecting to their meaning. He tried to force a question from his lips, but it would not come, and he struggled to remain conscious in the face of the pain.
The singing stopped, and for a moment, so did the world.
Then he heard a familiar voice. "I don't like this place," it growled. And he smiled.
The embers of the platform still smoldered when they returned to the temple, sore, wounded, limping.
"What the hell kind of monster has three tails, anyway? Stupid thing," Dru grumbled. "And my sword's in the bottom of that mudpit."
"It's a good thing you had the ring on, otherwise you'd have been with it," Di'Fier pointed out. "I'm not sure I'd have been able to find you in time. At least you've got Soderheim's sword waiting for you back in Freeport."
Dru grunted, moving towards the smoking ruin. "We can get through this passage, now, if we want."
"Maybe we should wait until we have rested," Benares suggested.
"I want off of this damned island," Dru snarled, and lifted herself upwards, teeth gritted against the pain of burned skin. "City of the Gods." Her words held a century's worth of scorn.
Di'Fier looked at his companions helplessly, and moved to follow her.
The passage curved, twisted deep into the rock. She passed warning-stakes topped with skulls, which she smashed as she went by. And then the tunnel ended, at a small room with a crude altar. Dru could feel her companions behind her, waiting for her anger to subside.
She glared at the altar, looking for an excuse. It was plain, but for the ancient metal case that stood atop it. She moved forward, throwing open the latches to reveal the gleam of gold.
There, in perfect miniature, sat one of the creatures they had fought below, its three tails splayed and its arms stretched outwards. Its arrow-shaped head looked imperiously across the room, and the tiny specks of rubies seemed to bore into her own eyes.
Kneel, it seemed to say. Serve us. You are strong. You will serve well.
Dru gritted her teeth, the anger boiling within her. "I...will...not!" She swept the statuette from the altar, flinging it to the floor where chips of the gilded stone scattered across the room. Di'Fier's blade descended upon it, and a crack spread across its body. Dru seized the pieces in either hand. "I hate this island!" she screamed, dashing one against the wall. "Everything is giant and it tries to eat you or take over you mind!" The second chunk joined the first, shattering again. "Stupid city! This was supposed to be our way off of this stinking place!" Dru seized the case, battering at the stone with it. "Everybody probably thinks we're dead now because some stupid b*st*rd had to sell us into slavery!" The statue was little more that powder now, and Dru flung the metal box aside, sinking down to sit on the stone floor.
Everyone was silent for a moment, and then Benares spoke quietly. "Perhaps...we should rest now."
Jon Potter
First Post
Perhaps this would be a good time for Shesara to play a little music to soothe our resident "savage beast". 
drnuncheon
Explorer
Just a note on that last update. Dru, not content to let Di'Fier outdo her in the 'near-fatal wounds' category, just had to go him one better: at the time she was hauled out of the boiling mud and healed, she was at -9 hit points.
J
J
