Drusilia Nailo
First Post
Boss said:
It was a close thing.
drnuncheon's Freeport Story Hour - Book II: Inheritance
- Thread starter drnuncheon
- Start date
It was a close thing.
drnuncheon
Explorer
Session Twenty-Four, Part One: Highgate
"Ach, those b*st*rds," the captain muttered as the harbor-pilot began steering his ship towards the dock.
"What's that?"
It was one of the castaways he'd picked up, the elf. They'd been floating along in some horrible patchwork attempt at a ship, and had filled his own craft with strange tales of an island populated by monstrous beasts. I'd not have believed them if it weren't for the teeth she kept as souveniers...
"That barge, Fahil's." The captain pointed out the gilded monstrosity. "My men land next t'that with coin in their pockets, and I'll be missing half or more by the time we're ready to ship out. I wonder how much he bribes the Pilot's Guild."
The elf nodded studying the sheer cliffs and the city that floated beneath thm. "Tell me. How would we reach the Temple of Knowledge?"
"That's 'top the cliff. You'll have to cross Sordadon and take the ferry..."
The ferry-barge floated with majestic, agonizing slowness into the mouth of the cavern. Lanterns hung about illuminated the place with a soft glow, as workmen loaded and unloaded the flat-bottomed boats for their trips to the harbor city.
"Now where?" Dru said. "We're supposed to find a lift, whatever that is."
"Didn't you ask?"
"I didn't want to look like a tourist."
From the back of the cavern, steel rattled. Slowly, a section of the floor began to rise, lifted up into the air by the metal chains attached to its circumference. The platform was laden down with crates and people.
"There!" Dru said, dashing forward through a crowd of surprised people. Di'Fier gaped a minute, then followed her, leaping onto the wood amid angered cries. A moment later Benares and Shesara joined them.
"Do you two constantly live on the edge?" the bard asked, as Dru leaned over to shout to the stragglers, "We'll meet at the inn!".
"Sometimes we live over it," Di'Fier responded.
Blinking in the sunlight, the foursome slipped out of the marketplace, surrounded by the unfamiliar sights and smells of Highgate.
"I never knew horses smelled so bad," Di'Fier muttered.
"They do when you get this many of them. If the Captain was right, we need to go to the Temple District."
"Which way is that?"
"Not a clue."
Benares cleared his throat. "Permit me," he said with a smile. "I do have some small connection with the Temple."
"Lead on, then."
The foursome wound their way through the streets of Highgate. Looking ahead, Dru scowled. "Benares, that's the city gate."
"The New City gate, actually. Each of the districts has its own wall, although they're starting to grow together." The scholar gestured at the shantytown clustered in the shadow of the wall as they passed by. "It's almost like separate cities now, but given another century of growth that will all change." He gestured to their right, across a canyon.
"Those ruins are the reason the city was originally founded, before they discovered the adamant ore. They're older even than the Valossan civilization."
The dusty road curved around the ruins on its way to the Temple district, and they were forced to move aside as a coach rattled past, heraldic arms painted on its doors. Finally, they passed through Godsgate into the chaos of the Temple District, crossing it on their way to the Great Library.
"Finally," Dru said. "I don't like this city, they have too many gods." She shoved open the great doors and stepped inside, and her face lit up to the sound of a terrified squeal and a man diving under his desk for protection.
"Norton!" she cried happily.
Compiler's Plug: This session - as well as the city of Highgate and the town of Kirkwood - brought to you by the kindness of Hal Greenberg and the folks at Thunderhead/Mystic Eye Games, who provided me with a copy of Bluffside: City on the Edge (and who I also owe some reviews to.) Bluffside is a fascinating product and deserves every bit of praise it has received on these boards.
"Ach, those b*st*rds," the captain muttered as the harbor-pilot began steering his ship towards the dock.
"What's that?"
It was one of the castaways he'd picked up, the elf. They'd been floating along in some horrible patchwork attempt at a ship, and had filled his own craft with strange tales of an island populated by monstrous beasts. I'd not have believed them if it weren't for the teeth she kept as souveniers...
"That barge, Fahil's." The captain pointed out the gilded monstrosity. "My men land next t'that with coin in their pockets, and I'll be missing half or more by the time we're ready to ship out. I wonder how much he bribes the Pilot's Guild."
The elf nodded studying the sheer cliffs and the city that floated beneath thm. "Tell me. How would we reach the Temple of Knowledge?"
"That's 'top the cliff. You'll have to cross Sordadon and take the ferry..."
The ferry-barge floated with majestic, agonizing slowness into the mouth of the cavern. Lanterns hung about illuminated the place with a soft glow, as workmen loaded and unloaded the flat-bottomed boats for their trips to the harbor city.
"Now where?" Dru said. "We're supposed to find a lift, whatever that is."
"Didn't you ask?"
"I didn't want to look like a tourist."
From the back of the cavern, steel rattled. Slowly, a section of the floor began to rise, lifted up into the air by the metal chains attached to its circumference. The platform was laden down with crates and people.
"There!" Dru said, dashing forward through a crowd of surprised people. Di'Fier gaped a minute, then followed her, leaping onto the wood amid angered cries. A moment later Benares and Shesara joined them.
"Do you two constantly live on the edge?" the bard asked, as Dru leaned over to shout to the stragglers, "We'll meet at the inn!".
"Sometimes we live over it," Di'Fier responded.
Blinking in the sunlight, the foursome slipped out of the marketplace, surrounded by the unfamiliar sights and smells of Highgate.
"I never knew horses smelled so bad," Di'Fier muttered.
"They do when you get this many of them. If the Captain was right, we need to go to the Temple District."
"Which way is that?"
"Not a clue."
Benares cleared his throat. "Permit me," he said with a smile. "I do have some small connection with the Temple."
"Lead on, then."
The foursome wound their way through the streets of Highgate. Looking ahead, Dru scowled. "Benares, that's the city gate."
"The New City gate, actually. Each of the districts has its own wall, although they're starting to grow together." The scholar gestured at the shantytown clustered in the shadow of the wall as they passed by. "It's almost like separate cities now, but given another century of growth that will all change." He gestured to their right, across a canyon.
"Those ruins are the reason the city was originally founded, before they discovered the adamant ore. They're older even than the Valossan civilization."
The dusty road curved around the ruins on its way to the Temple district, and they were forced to move aside as a coach rattled past, heraldic arms painted on its doors. Finally, they passed through Godsgate into the chaos of the Temple District, crossing it on their way to the Great Library.
"Finally," Dru said. "I don't like this city, they have too many gods." She shoved open the great doors and stepped inside, and her face lit up to the sound of a terrified squeal and a man diving under his desk for protection.
"Norton!" she cried happily.
Compiler's Plug: This session - as well as the city of Highgate and the town of Kirkwood - brought to you by the kindness of Hal Greenberg and the folks at Thunderhead/Mystic Eye Games, who provided me with a copy of Bluffside: City on the Edge (and who I also owe some reviews to.) Bluffside is a fascinating product and deserves every bit of praise it has received on these boards.
Jon Potter
First Post
drnuncheon said:
Don't know if I'm too late to get in on this, but I'd be interested. I'm currently out of town and without email access, but I'll be back in front of my own computer on Sunday night.
drnuncheon
Explorer
Boss said:
That's "Highgate" (affectionately known as "the other city" since for the longest time it was the only non-Freeport city ever mentioned in the game.)
It is, however, located in the County of Bluffside (as a nod to its original name).
J
drnuncheon
Explorer
DiFier said:
The reason for Di'Fier's levity will become clear all too soon as we approach the finale of Book 2...but before that, our heros will spend some time in their hometown, and then journey to Kirkwood, in the Barony of Threehills, to finally meet with Di'Fier's mysterious uncle Jardek.
Yes, that's two short plots and one long one...Book Two is nearly over, and then I get to put down the DM's Screen for a short time and rest* before diving back into Book 3.
J
* - that is to say, finish up the 'Special Edition' of Book One!
drnuncheon
Explorer
Session Twenty-Four, Part Two: Return to Freeport
"I apologize for Brother Norton," Brother Egil said. "If we had known you were coming, we never would have put him on desk duty. He's still...fragile."
Dru nodded sagely. "Who wouldn't be, after being trapped in an asylum full of undead?"
Egil opened his mouth as if to say that Norton's frailty had begun much earlier, but then thought better of it. "Still, yours is a most amazing story. Shipwrecked on an unknown shore...strange creatures...you must write all of what you remember for the library, when you have time."
"Right now, we'd just like to get word to our families that we're still alive," Di'Fier put in. "There's a spell, isn't there?"
"There is," Egil admitted, "although of some difficulty, and it requires a connection to the recipient...kinship is of course sufficient." He hesitated a moment. "Traditionally there is a donation to the temple...in Freeport I would have foregone it, but the head of this temple is far more strict than Thuron..."
"Oh!" said Dru. "Right." She reached into her pouch and withdrew a glittering stone. "How's that?"
Egil gaped. "That...will be more than sufficient. I have only prayed for the spell once today, but I can send for another brother."
Di'Fier glanced at Dru, and said, "The first one is to my mother. It's twenty-five words, isn't it? 'Mother, we were shipwrecked on island, sailed to Highgate. Need transport to Freeport for..." Mentally, he counted. Myself, Dru, Benares, Shesara, Jim, Volodya...the gnomes are staying here... "Six people. Love, Di'Fier."
Egil nodded, and murmured the words into the void. His eyes unfocused, as he listened for a reply, and then he spoke: "She says that the Guild tried scrying for you, but failed, and that she will meet you at the House of Universal Wizardry tomorrow at eight." He coughed. "Your father is walking, with a cane, and she sends her love." His eyes flickered to Dru.
"'Papa,'" Dru dictated. "'was sold into slavery shipwrecked on island full of giant monsters. Killed a dragon. Safe now in Highgate. Returning home tomorrow.' How many is that?"
"Twenty-two."
"'Much love, Dru'. There." Dru sat back and crossed her arms with satisfaction, as Egil went to fetch another brother. The newcomer cast the spell after taking Dru's hand, and listened...but slowly, a puzzled expression crept over his face.
"I'm sorry," he told her. "But the sending did not get through."
"What? What does that mean?" Dru was halfway out of her seat, fists on the table.
"I...I'm not sure. It is not the same as if he was dead, it is more...the message seems unable to find him."
Oh, Papa, what have you done? Dru thought.
"Is there...anyone else you would like to send a message to?"
"...no."
"Here, take this," Dru said to the gnomes as they parted ways. "It will help you start up again."
The gnomes' eyes widened at the sight of the glittering gem, and it quickly disappeared into the folds of Fonkin's tunic. "It should be us paying you," he said. "You rescued us from slavery and brought us back to civilization."
"Don't worry about it." Dru turned to Jim and Volodya, as the gnomes vanished into the crowd. "We found buyers for some of the other gems, and we didn't want you to have any trouble getting back to your lives," she said, offering them a pair of purses.
Volodya's eyes brimmed with wetness. "The gnomes were right, we should be paying you. If ever you need a coachman, you must come to me."
Jim looked wide-eyed at the money. "Thank you!" was all he said.
"It's about time to get going," Di'Fier said. "What is it, Jim?"
"I...well, I think I won't be going back with you. I'm going to take a ship. I'll buy into the cargo with this, and I'll make enough to pay you back!"
Di'Fier chuckled. "All right. Be careful, though." He watched as the tiny halfling vanished as well. "I hope he'll be all right."
"He grew up on the docks, he'll be fine," Dru told him.
The remaining five made their way to the House of Universal Wizardry, in the Wizard's Quarter.
"That would be the Receiving Hall," Di'Fier said, nodding to a door with an arcane symbol inscribed upon it. "They've got a pattern to the floor tiles there to identify it for people who want to teleport in."
It was a matter of a few moments before the doors opened, and a pair of figures emerged: the slender form of Maga Eleanor, Di'Fier's mother, and the plump roundness of her friend Andolyn. Di'Fier hugged his mother, and Dru nodded politely to the other mage. "How's the baking?" she asked.
"Oh, Gendrew's had the most splendid idea for the next banquet," she replied. "Dancing tarts! The pastries, of course, they wouldn't half know what to do with the other kind."
"Lets get you all home," Eleanor said. "Only five, and the chest?"
"The last one's decided to become a shipping magnate. Well, to try."
"All right, then. Andolyn, my house, so as not to upset the entire Guildhall?"
"Of course."
"...so we woke up in chains..."
Dru slipped away as Di'Fier began to tell the story. She would have stayed, but she had to find out what happened to Papa. It seems so strange, to be finally back here...I wonder why Hevos' shop is closed up. Her eyes took in the dinginess of the neighborhood, the trash on the street. How can it change this much in only half a year?
Ahead of her, a door opened, and half-a-dozen toughs walked out, laughing and guffawing amongst themselves. They went into the very next ship. Looks like they're collecting protection, she thought. But those were humans - Hellhounds, Finn's men. Her fingers curled on the handle of her rapier, but she restrained herself. No...not until I know what's going on.
Her steps led her inevitably towards the kesir. Even here, the squalor had increased. The windows on the hledmalle, the Street of Glass, pride of the kesir, were dingy and unwashed - some cracked or broken.
Her steps became firmer, more purposeful, as she strode through the cowering streets towards the headquarters of the ïlosNa. Her fist pounded on the door, and it jerked open.
Opened by a half-human.
Dru shoved him aside, bursting into the room as swords shot from their sheaths. Then she felt a hand clutch her arm, and she turned: Alust, gripping her with surprising strength, his eyes blazing. "We must talk," he hissed, pushing her back towards the door. "You are no longer welcome here after the way you behaved," he said. "Vanishing for so long."
Dru, astonished, fell back with him.
"You didn't even send poor Kennic any flowers," Alust continued.
"What-?"
"You know how much he likes orchids." The mage looked left and right, then leaned in. "Now is not the time," he muttered. "Go."
With his robes swirling around his haggard legs, Alust returned to the house, the door closing firmly behind him.
Something's wrong. Something's very wrong.
"I apologize for Brother Norton," Brother Egil said. "If we had known you were coming, we never would have put him on desk duty. He's still...fragile."
Dru nodded sagely. "Who wouldn't be, after being trapped in an asylum full of undead?"
Egil opened his mouth as if to say that Norton's frailty had begun much earlier, but then thought better of it. "Still, yours is a most amazing story. Shipwrecked on an unknown shore...strange creatures...you must write all of what you remember for the library, when you have time."
"Right now, we'd just like to get word to our families that we're still alive," Di'Fier put in. "There's a spell, isn't there?"
"There is," Egil admitted, "although of some difficulty, and it requires a connection to the recipient...kinship is of course sufficient." He hesitated a moment. "Traditionally there is a donation to the temple...in Freeport I would have foregone it, but the head of this temple is far more strict than Thuron..."
"Oh!" said Dru. "Right." She reached into her pouch and withdrew a glittering stone. "How's that?"
Egil gaped. "That...will be more than sufficient. I have only prayed for the spell once today, but I can send for another brother."
Di'Fier glanced at Dru, and said, "The first one is to my mother. It's twenty-five words, isn't it? 'Mother, we were shipwrecked on island, sailed to Highgate. Need transport to Freeport for..." Mentally, he counted. Myself, Dru, Benares, Shesara, Jim, Volodya...the gnomes are staying here... "Six people. Love, Di'Fier."
Egil nodded, and murmured the words into the void. His eyes unfocused, as he listened for a reply, and then he spoke: "She says that the Guild tried scrying for you, but failed, and that she will meet you at the House of Universal Wizardry tomorrow at eight." He coughed. "Your father is walking, with a cane, and she sends her love." His eyes flickered to Dru.
"'Papa,'" Dru dictated. "'was sold into slavery shipwrecked on island full of giant monsters. Killed a dragon. Safe now in Highgate. Returning home tomorrow.' How many is that?"
"Twenty-two."
"'Much love, Dru'. There." Dru sat back and crossed her arms with satisfaction, as Egil went to fetch another brother. The newcomer cast the spell after taking Dru's hand, and listened...but slowly, a puzzled expression crept over his face.
"I'm sorry," he told her. "But the sending did not get through."
"What? What does that mean?" Dru was halfway out of her seat, fists on the table.
"I...I'm not sure. It is not the same as if he was dead, it is more...the message seems unable to find him."
Oh, Papa, what have you done? Dru thought.
"Is there...anyone else you would like to send a message to?"
"...no."
"Here, take this," Dru said to the gnomes as they parted ways. "It will help you start up again."
The gnomes' eyes widened at the sight of the glittering gem, and it quickly disappeared into the folds of Fonkin's tunic. "It should be us paying you," he said. "You rescued us from slavery and brought us back to civilization."
"Don't worry about it." Dru turned to Jim and Volodya, as the gnomes vanished into the crowd. "We found buyers for some of the other gems, and we didn't want you to have any trouble getting back to your lives," she said, offering them a pair of purses.
Volodya's eyes brimmed with wetness. "The gnomes were right, we should be paying you. If ever you need a coachman, you must come to me."
Jim looked wide-eyed at the money. "Thank you!" was all he said.
"It's about time to get going," Di'Fier said. "What is it, Jim?"
"I...well, I think I won't be going back with you. I'm going to take a ship. I'll buy into the cargo with this, and I'll make enough to pay you back!"
Di'Fier chuckled. "All right. Be careful, though." He watched as the tiny halfling vanished as well. "I hope he'll be all right."
"He grew up on the docks, he'll be fine," Dru told him.
The remaining five made their way to the House of Universal Wizardry, in the Wizard's Quarter.
"That would be the Receiving Hall," Di'Fier said, nodding to a door with an arcane symbol inscribed upon it. "They've got a pattern to the floor tiles there to identify it for people who want to teleport in."
It was a matter of a few moments before the doors opened, and a pair of figures emerged: the slender form of Maga Eleanor, Di'Fier's mother, and the plump roundness of her friend Andolyn. Di'Fier hugged his mother, and Dru nodded politely to the other mage. "How's the baking?" she asked.
"Oh, Gendrew's had the most splendid idea for the next banquet," she replied. "Dancing tarts! The pastries, of course, they wouldn't half know what to do with the other kind."
"Lets get you all home," Eleanor said. "Only five, and the chest?"
"The last one's decided to become a shipping magnate. Well, to try."
"All right, then. Andolyn, my house, so as not to upset the entire Guildhall?"
"Of course."
"...so we woke up in chains..."
Dru slipped away as Di'Fier began to tell the story. She would have stayed, but she had to find out what happened to Papa. It seems so strange, to be finally back here...I wonder why Hevos' shop is closed up. Her eyes took in the dinginess of the neighborhood, the trash on the street. How can it change this much in only half a year?
Ahead of her, a door opened, and half-a-dozen toughs walked out, laughing and guffawing amongst themselves. They went into the very next ship. Looks like they're collecting protection, she thought. But those were humans - Hellhounds, Finn's men. Her fingers curled on the handle of her rapier, but she restrained herself. No...not until I know what's going on.
Her steps led her inevitably towards the kesir. Even here, the squalor had increased. The windows on the hledmalle, the Street of Glass, pride of the kesir, were dingy and unwashed - some cracked or broken.
Her steps became firmer, more purposeful, as she strode through the cowering streets towards the headquarters of the ïlosNa. Her fist pounded on the door, and it jerked open.
Opened by a half-human.
Dru shoved him aside, bursting into the room as swords shot from their sheaths. Then she felt a hand clutch her arm, and she turned: Alust, gripping her with surprising strength, his eyes blazing. "We must talk," he hissed, pushing her back towards the door. "You are no longer welcome here after the way you behaved," he said. "Vanishing for so long."
Dru, astonished, fell back with him.
"You didn't even send poor Kennic any flowers," Alust continued.
"What-?"
"You know how much he likes orchids." The mage looked left and right, then leaned in. "Now is not the time," he muttered. "Go."
With his robes swirling around his haggard legs, Alust returned to the house, the door closing firmly behind him.
Something's wrong. Something's very wrong.
Jon Potter
First Post
Re: Session Twenty-Four, Part Two: Return to Freeport
You can say that again!
Good to see poor old Brother Norten again after so long. And I et he thought that the mainland was far enough to hide!
drnuncheon said:
You can say that again!
Good to see poor old Brother Norten again after so long. And I et he thought that the mainland was far enough to hide!
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