Heroes, Inc., Day 1: Mysterious Strangers

[Steve Gorak]

On the other hand, if they did not have peaceful intentions, that fleet is far too small to harm our great city. Hopefully it is not an advance force for something larger, however."

"Unless there is a demond on board one of those ships" Murdoch sais out loud, to one in particular. Looking at Peregion"Have any envoys been sent to the ships?"

 

[frostrune]

Timrin looks a bit sheepish, his intellect far inferior to that of his esteemed companions, "Binding demons and rituals are beyond my knowledge but wouldn't the formation of the enemy ships look like a 'star' if seen from above? Could this have anything to do with the prophecy?"

 

[Hypersmurf]

Timrin looks a bit sheepish, his intellect far inferior to that of his esteemed companions, "Binding demons and rituals are beyond my knowledge but wouldn't the formation of the enemy ships look like a 'star' if seen from above? Could this have anything to do with the prophecy?"

OOC: Ooooo-ooh. Does Waterdeep have a lighthouse? And is it anywhere near the path of the approaching ships? /OOC

 

[Hypersmurf]

Meanwhile, Hannah passes on the Commune results.

Fin's eyes turn distant briefly as he receives the message, and he murmurs notes to himself while he listens.

"Hannah again," he explains, as his focus returns. "Arundel's had a chat with Herself, and he's on his way over. But I got the high points."

He checks a few items off on his fingers.

"The book's important, but unrelated to your demon-fey. The vampires are a dead end. The ships and the attacks are somehow related. There's a chance to save Aleena, but it has to be tonight... and she's probably still in Waterdeep somewhere. And saving her is apparently important not just for her own sake, but for the city. Lastly, if we get the chance, we might want to try contacting Oberon, though whether it'll help was iffy."

"Oh," he adds to Alethia, "for what it's worth, Waukeen gave you the nod of approval."

 

[kirinke]

"I didn't doubt that for a minute," she said dryly at Fin's remark and sobered as she mulled over the information at hand. "Aleena..."

She looked at Peregion, her eyes shadowed with an old pain. "This may not be a simple kidnapping for ransom. It could be... She could be a sacrifice. And if they couldn't have her, I'm sure that a paladin's life would do equally well to set the demon free. That's why there were two kidnapping attempts." she continued.

"It could well be they need you both for this ritual." she shook her head, as if dispelling an old, unpleasant memory. "I am no expert on this, but it would do us all no good if you fell into their hands as well."

 

[Hawkeye]

The attack on Lord Piergeron wasn't a kidnapping. They were trying to kill him, probably to keep him from saving his daughter from the sacrifice. Why else would they use such strong measures and attacks against him, when they could have used other means just to take him alive? Could Aleena be the star they are speaking of? Is there something about her that would relate her with the stars? A falling star at the time of her birth? An unusual positioning of the stars in the heavens? Does she perhaps carry or use an item or perhaps cast a spell that is related to stars in some manner?

Hawkeye

 

[frostrune]

The attack on Lord Piergeron wasn't a kidnapping. They were trying to kill him, probably to keep him from saving his daughter from the sacrifice. Why else would they use such strong measures and attacks against him, when they could have used other means just to take him alive? Could Aleena be the star they are speaking of? Is there something about her that would relate her with the stars? A falling star at the time of her birth? An unusual positioning of the stars in the heavens? Does she perhaps carry or use an item or perhaps cast a spell that is related to stars in some manner?

"Those are all excellent questions Shando, but we are sorely in need of answers. I suggest we put speculation aside and look at what we do know."

"Arundel has channeled some great information for us. We know with certainty that all these events are somehow related. Waukeen told us that saving Aleena helps save the city. Our efforts should be focused there."

"Since everything is at least loosely connected I find some of the small things you all have learned to be the most telling."

"The creature that took Aleena mentioned Oberon, God of good Faerie. He also had some type of deformed butterfly wings or some such. That sounds very Fey-like to me. His mount bore the device of the Unseelie Court. There certainly appears to be some faerie involvement. Waukeen intimated that followers of Oberon may be of some help. Does anyone know how to contact them?"

"Also, your encounter with Alath on the Mulhorandi ship is disturbing and revealing. The Watcher granted her a moment of lucidity before the darkness consumed her. She mentioned that her group sought to destroy a demon named Al-Hulath. The quest took them some 15 years to complete. And she seemed to think it was the year 1280 DR. Learning of this group, their quest, and the demon may be critically important. I would hope that combined resources of this city's finest priests, wizards, and sages would be able to dredge up something useful regarding this?"

"Lastly, Arundel confirmed that our efforts should be focused within the city. Are there any ideas on where to begin?"

 

[DM_Matt]

The attack on Lord Piergeron wasn't a kidnapping. They were trying to kill him, probably to keep him from saving his daughter from the sacrifice. Why else would they use such strong measures and attacks against him, when they could have used other means just to take him alive? Could Aleena be the star they are speaking of? Is there something about her that would relate her with the stars? A falling star at the time of her birth? An unusual positioning of the stars in the heavens? Does she perhaps carry or use an item or perhaps cast a spell that is related to stars in some manner?

Hawkeye

[Shando and the rest are well aware that Aleena is also known as the Paladinstar, referring to her famous paladin father and referencing the fact that he is in turn referred to as the Paladinson for HIS famous paladin father.It was mentioned in the OOC thread when I was laying out the mission options]

[There are three lighthouses in Waterdeep. One very large one on the mainland and two smaller ones integrated into fortified towers that are part of the bays outer defenses]

 

[Hypersmurf]

"Could Aleena be the star they are speaking of? Is there something about her that would relate her with the stars?"

Fin's head snaps up.

"Paladinstar," he breathes. "Ships... the lighthouse!"

"My lord," he says quickly to Peregion, "can you get men - skyknights, perhaps? - to investigate the small lighthouses? Just in case - I'm picking the 'Guiding Star' is the main beacon. With your permission, we'll leave right away."

 

[DM_Matt]

Fin's head snaps up.

"Paladinstar," he breathes. "Ships... the lighthouse!"

"My lord," he says quickly to Peregion, "can you get men - skyknights, perhaps? - to investigate the small lighthouses? Just in case - I'm picking the 'Guiding Star' is the main beacon. With your permission, we'll leave right away."

"Yes, yes, I think that couple be it. We can send a warning to the external towers, but they are part of a fortress and its on highest alert as it is on account of those ships. Those towers are full of soldiers already."