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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2817720" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Three, “Visitors to the Island”, August 5th, 1018 2:00 P.M. Meanwhile, back on Silver Moon Island, a small-to-medium sized merchant ship sails into the harbor. It is flying an off-continent flag, which Jacob, the ship’s captain of the ship Silver Moon recognizes as being that of the far-away Island Kingdom of Ostland (the Silver Moon sailed through Ostland waters in November, 1017, in Module 92: “Visit to Volusia”). The merchant ship’s Captain introduces himself to Jacob, saying that he is Captain Lorne, of the merchant ship Grand Enigma. He states that they are sailing to Jawltorn, their previous stop being the Isle of Cleese, and that their maps indicated Silver Moon Island as being a possible overnight stop. He says that he has two separate groups of passengers, one group wanting to find a bar, the other group wanting to find a church. Jacob says that the island has both, and gives directions. A group of six leaves the ship for the nearby Ukko Church. Captain Lorne and the six members of his crew stay with the Grand Enigma. Another seven head off towards Jerry’s Tavern. Currently in the Tavern are six of the Silver Moon Adventurers. Those six are the female thief/illusionist Blip, male gnome fighter Freyland, middle-aged male gnome thief and tavern owner Jerry, male half-elf figher/thief Lono (who is also Mojo‘s obnoxious cousin), female human monk Luekia, and male half-elf ranger Mark. A group of seven adventurers walk in, getting everyone’s attention, as one is a half-ogre fighter. The other six are human, the group consisting of two fighters, two clerics, two magic-users, and a thief. All are male except for one of the magic-users. Jerry introduces himself, and welcomes the group to his tavern. The leader is a fighter in plate mail, with longsword and a light crossbow. He states that his name is Cronin, and then introduces the rest of the party. The half-ogre fighter is also armored in plate mail, with a very large two-handed sword, and is named Gorthe. The first cleric is armored in studded leather, with no visible weapons, and is introduced as Albert. The other cleric is named Kingsley, wears chain mail, and has a hammer on his belt. The thief is named Glenn, wears leather armor, with two sai knives on his belt. The female mage is named Adele; she wears bracers and robes, with a wand on her belt. The male mage is introduced as Parisi, and he is wearing bracers, robes, and a cloak. An intoxicated Lono walks over to them, and asks where they are from. Cronin says they are mercenaries from Ostland, an island Kingdom located 800 miles to the west. “Why are you so far from home?” asks Blip, to which Cronin explains that his Kingdom has been at war with their neighboring Kingdom of Vestland for the past fifty years, and how up until now there has always been plenty of side-work for mercenaries, but that the situation has changed during the past year. “Why is that?” asks Jerry. Cronin replies that Ostland is now close to winning the war, and can now support the war effort using their own troops rather than needing mercenaries. “Has this been the case for long?” Mark asks. “Not at all” Cronin answers “For most of the last half-century the war was but a minor preoccupation for both lands, with little impact on the daily lives of the populations of both Kingdoms. Four ago that changed, when new military leadership in Ostland began a series of major offensives.” (The first of these military offenses being in Module # 59 “Last Stand at Kenesaw Creek.”) Cronin continues his story, “By two years ago Ostland was close to winning. They had captured several cities and approximately half the land of Vestland. Vestland’s resolve was on the verge of breaking when Ostland managed to capture their most sacred artifact, a Chariot of Victory, where it was prophesied that Vestland would fall once the chariot was gone. Somehow, Vestland managed to recover this artifact before the main population knew of its loss, and their High Priest rode it to lead the Vestland army to victory in several battles. Ostland was forced to retreat from much of the land they had captured. This temporarily turned the tide in the favor of Vestland.” Both Blip and Luekia listen intently to this, giving no indication to Cronin that they were members of team who recovered the chariot (in Module 83: “Chariots of Water”). “Last year Ostland responded with a major counteroffensive. They doubled the size of their Navy by hiring on ships from other lands. This led to a massive sea battle, from which all but four ships of the Vestland Navy were destroyed.” [Editorial comment: The party declined an offer for the Silver Moon to serve as part of this Ostland Navy in November, 1017 in Module 92: “Visit to Volusia“. Since the group chose to skip this particular mission, which was planned as a twenty-game action module, it became a game-and-a-half long filler module instead.] “Ostland then began a full-scale land assault, again using troops from other lands. They won, with Ostland now is in possession of over 75% of Vestland’s territory. The remaining three Vestland cities still under Vestland rule are currently under siege, and are easily contained by the Ostland Army and Navy, so all foreign troops and mercenaries have been dismissed.” “Why don’t you just go get work from Vestland? They must have plenty of jobs for you now.” asks Jerry. “That would be treasonous,” answers Cronin, “we could never turn against our home land!” “Scruples,” mutters Lono, “its people like that who give mercenaries a bad name.” [Editorial Comment: Yes, the above paragraphs were are all shameless foreshadowing to a future module, where the Vestland military will yet again re-commission the playing characters as military officers to “pull their fat out of the fire”. Another future module possibility is a mission of diplomacy, where the Silver Moon will help to negotiate a final peace settlement to the war.] Cronin says how they are relieved to finally be off the boat, and purchases rooms for his party to stay the night. He says that they have shared a boat for the past two months with a group of the worst kind of salesmen, sellers of clerical items. Albert corrects him, telling him that the ocean voyage was only three weeks long, to which Cronin exclaims, “Well, it sure felt like two months!” Albert answers “You think you had it bad, it was me and Kingsley who they kept trying to sell to!” Glenn interjects that the salesmen weren’t bad at all, but that it was their Paladin bodyguard who he really wanted to throw overboard. Cronin inquires about work available for adventurers in the Jawlt capitol city of Jawltorn, and is told by the party present that most jobs go to them, but that they could probably find work elsewhere on the continent without too much of a problem. The entrance of one of the previously mentioned salesmen interrupts the conversation. The man announces that at seven that evening there will be a showing of clerical wares for sale at the Ukko church, and to spread the word to all other clerics on the island. The salesman and his entourage of two bodyguards then leave. A now tipsy Lono remembers that he was sent to bring Mark back to the city, and asks Mark to accompany him back. Mark asks why, to which Lono can no longer remember. Realizing that Lono is in no shape to climb a mountain by himself, Mark agrees to go with him. They ride to the mountain along with Yeah (the Tavern-keeper’s son, who brings the horses back to the tavern). Mark and Lono then spend the next hour climbing the mountain, followed by traveling through the mile-long eastern cave entrance to their home in what was the ancient City of Parthalis (this way is actually the longest but usually safest way to enter the city, especially in their present condition). Back in the Kaloon Lordholding, at the end of the short break, the party arrive back at the palace for the second ballot for the next King. A pair of magicians are discreetly watching them from a distance. Once the Silver Moon are all inside, and the doors to the palace are closed, one of the mages turns to the other and says, "OK, they're busy now. Return to your team and launch the attack." The second mage teleports away. Inside the palace, the second ballot is cast, with no change in result from the first ballot. A five-hour break is called. All assembled are told to reconvene at 9:00 PM in the evening for a third and final ballot. It is stated that if the third ballot again results in a tie the vote will be postponed until a later date, as the next leader does not assume office until the following January. The party return to the Regal Carriage Inn, except for Immy, who tries to obtain information from some of the other parties. Back at the inn, the group discusses possibilities of some type of alliance between Kindor and Jennifer. Unbeknownst to them, the other evil mage continues to watch through a window from across the street.</blockquote>

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