Return of the Slavelords, Part 2 - "Bright City, Dark Hearts"
- Thread starter Karl Green
- Start date
Karl Green
First Post
Gnarley Forest, morning (light misty rain) into night
The party moves straight south to make it to the road that leads to Tree Oaks. It takes almost two hours of traveling through the wet forest to make the road. Then riding hard the party makes the small city about an hour after sunset.
Tree Oaks is a small woodland community of about 100, surrounded by wooden palisade. The watchman at the gate holds out a lantern to see you and asks about your business "Oi now what ye want? It be after dark and we not like to open thy gate on a night like this, I tell ye wat."
After a short exchange through he does open to admit the party, telling them that Orc raids have been happening more often these days and its not good to be a traveling at night in the forest. Mostly of the inhabitants of the town are made up of loggers and herbalist. There is one, fairly large Inn in town, the The Brick and Briar Inn. Three stories tall, it is the second largest building in town (the Lord Mayor's Hold it larger), and the stable boys come out in heavy oil-wool cloaks to take your horses. "That el' be a silver shilling m'lords" they say for feed and stabling of the horses.
Inside, the large common room smells of roasting pig and warmed mead. The Innkeeper is a board dwarf, with a thick black beard. He is wiping his hands as you enter and comes up to you saying in a deep gravelly voice "Aye lords what'll it be? Got roasting pig that be a finished and bacon stew be in the kitchen. We also got warmed mead for and rooms are available. Costs are a steal iffin' yea ask me, but I be a fair one and treat all travelers a fair"
Some of the customers laugh and shout "As fair as a dwarf protecting his hoard of stolen gold would be to a dragon come back to collect what's his HA". The laughers is easy going though and while the dwarf glares at them, you catch a glint of a smile under his beard "Aye yea highwaymen know all about stealing don't yea"
He looks back and says "So what will it be lords? Got me more customers then the lot of yea and only one assist to take care of yea all…" and about then a rather attractive half-orc girl comes out of the kitchen entrance carrying a large platter with stew bowls on one shoulder. She takes it to one of the tables where four humans are sitting (three men and one female, dressed like woodsmen or rangers).
The party moves straight south to make it to the road that leads to Tree Oaks. It takes almost two hours of traveling through the wet forest to make the road. Then riding hard the party makes the small city about an hour after sunset.
Tree Oaks is a small woodland community of about 100, surrounded by wooden palisade. The watchman at the gate holds out a lantern to see you and asks about your business "Oi now what ye want? It be after dark and we not like to open thy gate on a night like this, I tell ye wat."
After a short exchange through he does open to admit the party, telling them that Orc raids have been happening more often these days and its not good to be a traveling at night in the forest. Mostly of the inhabitants of the town are made up of loggers and herbalist. There is one, fairly large Inn in town, the The Brick and Briar Inn. Three stories tall, it is the second largest building in town (the Lord Mayor's Hold it larger), and the stable boys come out in heavy oil-wool cloaks to take your horses. "That el' be a silver shilling m'lords" they say for feed and stabling of the horses.
Inside, the large common room smells of roasting pig and warmed mead. The Innkeeper is a board dwarf, with a thick black beard. He is wiping his hands as you enter and comes up to you saying in a deep gravelly voice "Aye lords what'll it be? Got roasting pig that be a finished and bacon stew be in the kitchen. We also got warmed mead for and rooms are available. Costs are a steal iffin' yea ask me, but I be a fair one and treat all travelers a fair"
Some of the customers laugh and shout "As fair as a dwarf protecting his hoard of stolen gold would be to a dragon come back to collect what's his HA". The laughers is easy going though and while the dwarf glares at them, you catch a glint of a smile under his beard "Aye yea highwaymen know all about stealing don't yea"
He looks back and says "So what will it be lords? Got me more customers then the lot of yea and only one assist to take care of yea all…" and about then a rather attractive half-orc girl comes out of the kitchen entrance carrying a large platter with stew bowls on one shoulder. She takes it to one of the tables where four humans are sitting (three men and one female, dressed like woodsmen or rangers).
johnsemlak
First Post
|
Argent Silvermage
First Post
Garynn Gnome Druid 4/Bard 2
As Norbec sits down he realises there is a badger sleeping under the table they have chosen.
Just as he is about to say something a Gnome in fine green and brown leathers walks up ducking only slightly to walk under the table and starts dragging the sleeping animal away. Ock! Beggin' yir pardon I am. My wee beastie was trying to stay out from under foot. Come on now Bramble. We's gots to git. These city folk needs ta rest.
As the badger moves off into a corner you notice that the patrons of the bar don't give it a second glance. The gnome turns back to Norbec and says, Me name is Garynn Wildsong. I'm pleased to be making yer aquaintence sir. What brings you folk to this neck o' the woods? The Gnome stands just under 3 foot tall and maybe 25 pounds. He has snow white hair and sky blue eyes. on a shoulder strap is a very expensive set of pan pipes.
As Norbec sits down he realises there is a badger sleeping under the table they have chosen.
Just as he is about to say something a Gnome in fine green and brown leathers walks up ducking only slightly to walk under the table and starts dragging the sleeping animal away. Ock! Beggin' yir pardon I am. My wee beastie was trying to stay out from under foot. Come on now Bramble. We's gots to git. These city folk needs ta rest.
As the badger moves off into a corner you notice that the patrons of the bar don't give it a second glance. The gnome turns back to Norbec and says, Me name is Garynn Wildsong. I'm pleased to be making yer aquaintence sir. What brings you folk to this neck o' the woods? The Gnome stands just under 3 foot tall and maybe 25 pounds. He has snow white hair and sky blue eyes. on a shoulder strap is a very expensive set of pan pipes.
Last edited:
Blue_Genie
First Post
Nadaria bet Meslahan, Bakluni Mnk5/Clr1
A human woman descends the stairs who is surely not a native of the Gnarly. She is somewhat short, with dark auburn hair and deeply tanned skin. She is dressed in long, flowing green and yellow dappled robes, and carries a strand of onyx prayer beads in her left hand, and wears simple, cord sandles on her feat. Her hands are covered in tightly fitting, blue doeskin gloves, which are stitched with silver filigree writing. She also wears a black, highly polished steel medallion around her neck.
Carrying herself with great grace and dignity, she makes her way over to your group, and looks at each one of you in turn. Nodding her head, she bows deeply to all of you, stating in heavily accented Common, "Greetings fellow travelers of the road, my name is Nadaria bet Meslahan. I have journeyed many weeks in search of you, and my heart fills with the joy to find you here. It is a great honor for me to finally find myself in your presence. May the Chained Lord guide us all to his presence."
After her speech she stands in silence, an expression of unperturbed calm on her face. You begin to hear her prayer beads clacking together as she moves them through her fingers.
A human woman descends the stairs who is surely not a native of the Gnarly. She is somewhat short, with dark auburn hair and deeply tanned skin. She is dressed in long, flowing green and yellow dappled robes, and carries a strand of onyx prayer beads in her left hand, and wears simple, cord sandles on her feat. Her hands are covered in tightly fitting, blue doeskin gloves, which are stitched with silver filigree writing. She also wears a black, highly polished steel medallion around her neck.
Carrying herself with great grace and dignity, she makes her way over to your group, and looks at each one of you in turn. Nodding her head, she bows deeply to all of you, stating in heavily accented Common, "Greetings fellow travelers of the road, my name is Nadaria bet Meslahan. I have journeyed many weeks in search of you, and my heart fills with the joy to find you here. It is a great honor for me to finally find myself in your presence. May the Chained Lord guide us all to his presence."
After her speech she stands in silence, an expression of unperturbed calm on her face. You begin to hear her prayer beads clacking together as she moves them through her fingers.
Last edited:
Someone
Adventurer
Norbac Odrog, Cleric of Trithereon.
The big, stinky pile of half orc, armor, weapons and skins look down. "What do you mean, city folk?" asks Norbac. "I´m a member of the Red Axes tribe and we don´t live in blocks of stone. And I´ve spent years fighting the Old one in the wild, not behind some wall, as I´m doing now. Because there´s a big band of giants, orcs and goblins in the forest and we´re here to warn whoever wants to give us a hand."
Argent Silvermage said:
The big, stinky pile of half orc, armor, weapons and skins look down. "What do you mean, city folk?" asks Norbac. "I´m a member of the Red Axes tribe and we don´t live in blocks of stone. And I´ve spent years fighting the Old one in the wild, not behind some wall, as I´m doing now. Because there´s a big band of giants, orcs and goblins in the forest and we´re here to warn whoever wants to give us a hand."
Karl Green
First Post
Tree Oaks, the Brick and Briar Inn, night
The Dwarf brings mead (tea for Philo) and meat for the groups table. The half-orc lass brings them food (she smiles and laughs at Norbac's comment).
One of the human forester looking men looks over at Philo's comments and says "Aye there have been many an Orc raid of late. We have not been able to find their base through, but I reckon I know the area they be a heading. To the north of here there be a cursed part of the forest... we call it the Blackthorn. The trees and the animals there an't natural.
"It be two days deeper into the forest and one can't really miss it when yea get there. The trees turn black and twisted. The animals hostile and 'wrong'.
"We an't got enough rangers here to protect the loggers or other folk as is, and the Gnarley Rangers be busy in the south. Seems Orcs and Trolls have been see moving up from the Welkwood into eastern Celene burning and looting the villages there. Even farther north, up on the Velverdyva River, pirates or slavers have been hitting the villages there. Not be a good days iffin' yea ask me…
"From where are you strangers from? Oh I am sorry, they call me Wess"
The Dwarf brings mead (tea for Philo) and meat for the groups table. The half-orc lass brings them food (she smiles and laughs at Norbac's comment).
One of the human forester looking men looks over at Philo's comments and says "Aye there have been many an Orc raid of late. We have not been able to find their base through, but I reckon I know the area they be a heading. To the north of here there be a cursed part of the forest... we call it the Blackthorn. The trees and the animals there an't natural.
"It be two days deeper into the forest and one can't really miss it when yea get there. The trees turn black and twisted. The animals hostile and 'wrong'.
"We an't got enough rangers here to protect the loggers or other folk as is, and the Gnarley Rangers be busy in the south. Seems Orcs and Trolls have been see moving up from the Welkwood into eastern Celene burning and looting the villages there. Even farther north, up on the Velverdyva River, pirates or slavers have been hitting the villages there. Not be a good days iffin' yea ask me…
"From where are you strangers from? Oh I am sorry, they call me Wess"
Last edited:
Someone
Adventurer
Norbac eyes the half-orc girl before answering: "We come from Mynaryn Castle, Wess. Near there we fought some slavers, but not before one of them, a rare monster know as ogre magi, killed many of the kidnapped villagers. We here to kill him, since we heard of a bandit that uses cold blasts. But when we tracking them, we found a gang of orcs destroying a farm, and they fell before us."
Norbac makes a pause.
"Now, they had a map, saying they´ll gather in some point soon. Later we resting, when a rather large band of them passed near us, with a lot of giants and drums and all, the say that coming near here. Or maybe going to that ´Blackthorn´"
Norbac makes a pause.
"Now, they had a map, saying they´ll gather in some point soon. Later we resting, when a rather large band of them passed near us, with a lot of giants and drums and all, the say that coming near here. Or maybe going to that ´Blackthorn´"
Scotley
Hero
Verrick Human Rogue/Wizard
Verrick looks up from his cup and then rises, "Well met Nadaria, always a pleasure to meet a traveler. I am Verrick Armore, and these are my companions, Norbac, Lorien and Philo." He then turns his attention to Garynn, "After a night and day out in this rain, I am ready to take up the life of city folk." Glancing at his companions he continues. "We've been on the trail of a most foul Ogre Magi and have reason to believe that he is in the area. We've been sidetracked by bands of Orcs and even some Giants in the area. We thought it best to come here and make the inhabitants aware of the great threat on their doorstep. Of course as long as we are here a hot meal and a warm bath will be welcome as well. Now tell me lady why are you seeking us? Have we met?"
Verrick looks up from his cup and then rises, "Well met Nadaria, always a pleasure to meet a traveler. I am Verrick Armore, and these are my companions, Norbac, Lorien and Philo." He then turns his attention to Garynn, "After a night and day out in this rain, I am ready to take up the life of city folk." Glancing at his companions he continues. "We've been on the trail of a most foul Ogre Magi and have reason to believe that he is in the area. We've been sidetracked by bands of Orcs and even some Giants in the area. We thought it best to come here and make the inhabitants aware of the great threat on their doorstep. Of course as long as we are here a hot meal and a warm bath will be welcome as well. Now tell me lady why are you seeking us? Have we met?"
