Broccli_Head
Explorer
Generally I hate puzzles, but I really enjoyed your description of how the players figured that one out....for the bad guys!
Nice set up
Nice set up
Rootbeergnome's ARCANA UNEARTHED STORYHOUR!!!
- Thread starter rootbeergnome
- Start date
rootbeergnome
First Post
Thanks for the compliments guys, they are much appreciated! This is also where I ended the second session, so the players where all like "We hate YOU!" I got a lot of amusement out of that. I'll post the first part of the second session within the next couple of days.
Many thanks, and please keep reading!
-RB Gnome
Many thanks, and please keep reading!
-RB Gnome
rootbeergnome
First Post
“We have the house surrounded, we do not wish to hurt you, but the object of our mission is within that safe, stand aside and live.” Says the man with the red kerchief.
“I see only four men, how can we believe you have the house surrounded? And besides, even if you do, they wouldn’t be able to save you in time if you were to fight us.” Says Sadune as he glares at the leader.
Nerius reaches over and shuts the vault, producing looks of surprise from the party, and angry looks from the strangers. Nerius can’t help but smirk at the strangers.
“Open the vault and stand aside, our mission is of the utmost importance.” The red kerchief man looks angry.
“What is it that you seek within the vault? And for what purpose? Who are you anyway?” Sadune steps forward, protectively in front of Nerius causing the red kerchief man to look up to the tall dark skinned man.
“I should ask you the same question. My name is Jermaine, who are you and what is it that you seek?” He replies.
“We are students of Marquette’s School for the Magically Gifted and we seek a chest. We do not wish to fight you, but we cannot allow you to take anything from the vault.” Sadune now widens his stance, in case the man decides to charge him.
“Very well, we also seek a chest, but since I do not wish to see any bloodshed I will leave you with but a warning. Many seek the chest that you seek, and many would go to great lengths to obtain its contents. I suggest you watch your back. Ok men, let’s move out.” With that Jermaine adjusts his red kerchief and he and his men leave. Sadune follows them to make sure they leave. The party opens the vault again and everyone goes inside except Korigahn who is keeping watch. Within the vault is a twenty-foot but twenty-foot room. Contained in the vault are several scrolls on the walls, shelves lined with potions a few books and pieces of parchment, old letters, painting supplies, and other odds and ends. “Do you think this is the chest we seek?” Dajsan points out a small wooden chest sitting atop an old desk. “It could be” remarks Sesseress who has cast detect magic, “or it could be the magical chest in the corner beneath that old map, they both radiate magic.” He walks over and uncovers the chest in the corner. The chest is covered in several runes some of which he quickly recognizes. “This one means protection, this one means danger,” he says as he points “and this one means electricity I believe. It is most likely trapped. This means ‘owner’ as a possessive and this means ‘love.’ I can not read the others.” He says as he points to the others.
“Owner’s love. What could that be?” ponders Dajsan.
“I hate to interrupt, but this door is making some sort of noise!” Korigahn starts yelling from the doorway. The vault door then begins to slowly close itself, as Korigahn is attempting to keep it open. The party begins to bolt for the door, but it is too late, the vault has closed and locked itself, leaving the party pounding on the inside in complete darkness.
“OPEN THE DOOR KORIGAHN!!” The muffled shouts of the party reach Korigahn from the outside, but it sounds more like “ofen ma voor dorigahn!”
“I err…I wasn’t paying attention when you were opening it the first time!” Korigahn begins to get worried.
“WHAF?!?!” There is a simultaneous shout from within the vault.
“It’s ok, I’ll figure this thing out just give me a minute.” Korigahn begins to puzzle the locking mechanism.
Within the vault it is pitch black, the only light is just a very faint glowing coming from the metal chest in the corner, but it does not shed any light to see by. “Oh great, we are gonna be trapped in here for days with that idiot trying to get us out.” Nerius slams his hand against the door.
“No, not days, the air supply would not last that long, this vault seems to be air tight.” Notes Dajsan.
Sesseress takes advantage of the situation; he is the only one who can see in the pitch black. He looks around at all the bottles of magical liquids and scrolls of the arcane, and can’t help but to quietly help himself to these things. Just as he has finished tucking away a potion bottle, the door makes a loud “CLANG” and the vault opens. Korigahn is standing there with a smug grin on his face. “Well, we haven’t got all day, lets get that chest and get it back to Marquette.” The entire party agrees that they should take both chests, just in case, and open neither of them.
When they walk back down to the bottom of the house to the dock beneath the roots, they find that the boat is missing. “The other men must have taken the boat.” Cualth looks out into the swamp water, searching for any movement. “Well, I’ll just swim over and get the boat.” Nerius begins to remove his clothing and armor again. “I’ll go too.” Sadune removes his sandals and robes. When they reach the other side, dripping wet, it occurs to Nerius “The men in the house were not wet.”
“What?” Sadune is untying the boat.
“The men, they were not wet, they would have had to swim like us because the boat was already moored beneath the roots, or perhaps they were already in the house when we got there, and that is why the boat was already tied at the house.” Nerius climbs onto the boat with Sadune.
“But we searched the whole house and didn’t see anyone.” Sadune begins rowing, his muscular arms churning the oar through the water.
“Or they could have had their own boat I suppose, but I did not see a boat, and I don’t see one now.” Nerius looks around at the edges of the bog surrounding the tree house.
The party all board the boat and cross safely, they find their horses safely tied where they left them. The trip home is relatively uneventful; they see only wild animals such as deer until they get closer to the city around dark. As they are leaving the small shrubby forest that surrounds the swamp they meet passing merchants leaving town to points north. Sesseress notices something on the side of the wagon as it passes. There is a rather large crudely painted symbol on the side of the wagon that looks like a sword. The other members of the party don’t seem to notice and Sesseress says nothing. Closer to town there is another passing merchant wagon, and Sesseress notes that on the side of this wagon there is a symbol of a flask. He points it out to the party, but none of them seem to be able to see it. They hail the drivers and ask them if they have anything to sell. The merchant sells Nerius a potion and gives him a small slip of paper that says “Pedigo’s Peculiar Potion Guarantee.”
The party continues on into the city after being let into the gates. They are passing through near the jail when they hear howling like some great monster coming from inside of the prison. They stop some drunken men leaving a tavern and ask about the howling. The men tell them about a monster that the mayor supposedly interrogates monthly. He takes a trip there once a month and there are always howls coming from the prison. Outside of college town (the walled enclosure where the school is located) Nerius finds a small gray dog with matted hair that wags it’s tail and begs for food. Nerius feeds him and sort of adopts the stray. They return the horses, and take the chest to Marquette. They are greeted by the butler at the door, a rotund man with a bird-like nose named Mr. Gurnd. He promptly shows them to a waiting room and after about half an hour, just when the party begins to doze off on the cushiony furniture, Marquette arrives, energetic as ever, though it is apparent that he has been sleeping.
“Ah yes, so you have returned! And how fares Barom?” Marquette is in his pajamas, and is wearing a pointy sleeping cap, his pajama pants also cover his feet, and it almost looks like he is wearing a combination of socks and pants.
“We have brought you the chest, two chests actually because we wanted to make sure to have the right one. Barom was nowhere to be found, but Sadune did find a pipe with some blood in it lying on the floor near his hearth.” Nerius and the others hand over the two chests.
“Barom wasn’t there you say? That does not bode well at all. It sounds like something terrible may have happened.” He looks thoughtful for a moment and mumbles something under his breath. “Ah yes, the metal one is the right one, but I wonder what is in the other?” Marquette opens the small wooden chest and the others flinch slightly, half expecting a trap of some sort. Within the small wooden chest are revealed different types of gems and coinage. “Ah yes, old coins and spell catalysts.” Then he looks at the metal chest, reading the old runes and carvings on it and speaks a word “Levatorium” and the small chest begins to float about two feet from the surface of the table. “Yes, Mr. Gurnd please see to it that this is taken to my study, and make sure that no one opens it.” The butler leads the chest by a handle out of the room.
“So, Barom is missing, this has me worried. I will have to look into it, but you have all done well for your first assignment, here is a minor thanks for your troubles.” He hands each of the students 50 gold pieces. “Also, your agent has found you some jobs, he wishes to meet with you bright and early in the morning. By my reckoning it is just past midnight so I suggest returning to your rooms for some much needed rest.” With that Marquette bids the students goodnight and they all return to the dorms.
Crazy Jim, the janitor, is at the front steps of the dormitory, feeding the small winged cat that can often be found wandering around campus. “Yes, my sweetie, it’s good isn’t it, eat up. You’re the only one who really appreciates me aren’t you sweetie? Yes I know, I agree, I understand, but you have to be more reasonable. Why would you say that? You don’t really mean it? Yes yes, of course I love you.” Crazy Jim stops talking to the cat abruptly when the party approaches and looks annoyed. “What are ye doing up this late? And why did you bring this mutt in here?” He regards the shaggy gray dog with disgust. “Well, why are ye just standing there? Get to sleep.”
“What’s his name?” Sesseress asks, regarding the winged cat.
“Well, I’m not sure really, he hasn’t told me his real name, I do know his truename however, but I can’t tell you that, cuz you could use some kinda vicious spell on him and curse him or something.” Crazy Jim’s Eyes get wide and he looks at the whole party without blinking for a long time.
Everyone but Nerius goes into the dorm “Goodnight Jim” they all say to him as they pass, they are used to him being crazy and talking to the cat.
“Listen, Jim, I was wondering, would you be so kind as to watch my dog for me tonight? I don’t think he would hesitate to use the bathroom in the dormitory floor, and I think we could just avoid that mess if you would tie him up somewhere and get him some food for me.” Nerius tries to be persuasive.
“Well, he don’t seem like he wants to eat my sweetie too much, so I’ll watch him for ya tonight, but ya best come for him in the morning.” Jim eyes the shaggy dog, the dog just stands there with his tongue hanging out of his mouth looking back. Jim walks over and pets the dog on the head.
“Well goodnight Jim, I’ll see you in the morning.” Nerius disappears into the dormitory and the students all get some much-needed sleep.
The next morning, another student, who tells them that someone is waiting for them downstairs, awakens them. Each of the party gets up, gets dressed, and relieves themselves. They all go downstairs into the sitting room where there is a nicely dressed man waiting for them. “Greetings friends, I am Jared. I was assigned by Marquette to find you jobs that are suitable for adventurers such as yourselves. It took some time, but I think I may have found some things that require attention in the city that might be suitable to your expertise.” He is a young man, probably of about thirty years, nicely dressed and clean-shaven. “Let’s see. First of all, just last night the Secretary of Treasury has been murdered in his office. The city guard is short handed and they are looking for anyone with a clean background and detective skills to help them puzzle out the murder. Also there are several horses missing from the surrounding area, mostly missing from the Miller’s horse farm, but a few in the city as well. Also, the local goblin catcher seems to have gotten lazy, as goblins are very numerous in the city lately and the mayor is offering 1 gold piece per two goblin ears, just the left ones of course. Well, do any of these sound to your liking?” Jared looks positive and smiles at the party.
“Hmm, I suppose we could help with the goblin problem first, I think the murder of a city official is a little above our station to investigate.” Korigahn looks around at the others. “What say you?”
“I think we should look into the murder. It like that would be the area that needs the most attention at the moment.” Nerius argues, looking smugly at Korigahn.
“I think we should help the goblin catcher as well, the murder will be well investigated by the city guard I think.” Adds Dajsan.
The party finally agrees to go help the goblin catcher. The agent gives them directions to each of the places for the jobs. The goblin catcher’s home is on the docks, where he lives in a houseboat. The party makes their way there, and when they near the docks, they see a woman surrounded by little green and brown goblins. They are all tearing her things off of her, taking her possessions, her shoes, and anything else they can tear away.
“Stop this at once you miscreants or prepare to face my wrath!” Korigahn draws his Key weapon, his Khopesh, as a challenge.
The goblins stop what they are doing and make a strange noise, sort of a gurgling growl and start making little hissing and clacking noises at each other. Then, from the alleyways on either side of the party just in front of them, pour forth more goblins. The party rushes forth, with Nerius, Sadune and Korigahn leading the charge, they slam into the goblin horde, and steel and spell tear apart their ranks and send them cowering and running into the streets. The fight is too easy, and the party starts to regret their slaughter. There are several dead goblins at their feet, about 8 of them. Sesseress starts to cut off an ear, but feels sickened and stops. “It does not seem right.” he says, looking up at the rest of the party.
“Yes, I agree, they are probably just hungry, the woman is not hurt, and it looks like they were trying to steal the bread she was carrying.” Sadune helps the lady up and she thanks him. He gives her some silver to buy more bread.
“I don’t think we should do this really, but let us see the goblin catcher anyway. Perhaps there are bigger problems that need attention.” Dajsan is searching the goblins for anything out of the ordinary. He finds nothing.
The party continues on to the docks, informing the city guard of the mess they left in the streets after their passing. They find the goblin catcher’s houseboat and approach it, trying not to step on the old fish heads that flies are swarming on the dock.
“This looks more like a floating shack than a house.” Korigahn turns up his nose to the stench of the fish. “And that smell is HIDEOUS.”
“Anybody home?” Nerius knocks on the door. There is no answer, so he peeks his head into one of the window flaps. He hears loud snoring and by the dim light he is letting in, he can see a filthy hovel with a small cot with the form of a man curled on top of it. There are bottles and cups scattered all over the place, along with old nets and fishing poles, and dirty clothes, it smells worse inside of the boat than it does on the fish rot smelling docks. “Hello! Hey there! Are you the goblin catcher?” Nerius calls to the man.
“Whuh? Uh, what the hell?” He rolls out of bed looking around. “Oh my aching head. Who the hell are you?” He steps out of the boat in his underwear, unscrews a flask and takes a deep guzzling swig.
“We are students from the school, we were told you needed help with goblin catching.” Nerius offers.
“Don’t need no help, now get out of here.” The man hawks and spits into the water, watching the fish eat it, he chuckles slightly to himself, “Stupid fish.”
“Ok, well it’s time to go, I don’t want to help this wretched man slaughter any vermin.” Korigahn turns and begins to go.
“I agree. I don’t feel comfortable slaughtering intelligent creatures, even if they are a nuisance.” Says Cualth.
“Sorry we have wasted your time sir.” Nerius turns to leave with the rest of the party in tow.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit early to start drinking.” Quips Sesseress as he turns to leave. He is pretty sure he hears the drunken goblin catcher mumble the words “race traitor” but decides to let it pass.
The party decides to travel to the horse farm where all the horses have been coming up missing. They leave the city by way of the northern gate and come upon the horse farm. The Miller’s ranch seems like any of the other farms around RiverBend. It is situated in the rolling grass hills beyond the city. There is a very large fenced in area that holds several horses and the party eventually finds Farmer Miller brushing some of the horses in the barn.
“What can I do for you fellas? Interested in buying a horse? These are going to market tomorrow, some of my finest steeds. I’ll even cut you a deal.” Farmer Miller is a middle-aged man with a wrinkled face. His skin is tan from working outside all the time, and his overalls are covered in dirt
“Actually, we have been sent here to help you with your horse problem.” Nerius adjusts his leather hat.
“You are?” Farmer Miller looks at the group, seeming to study them. “Well, it’s about time somebody came to help me out here. I’ve already lost eight horses just within the last few weeks!” Farmer Miller’s voice takes on an angry tone.
“Well sir, I assure you as a man of honor that we shall do our best to assist you in this manner.” Korigahn straightens his back and tries to look dashing.
“Well, I certainly hope you boys can help an old farmer out. This is putting me out of business here, and I have children to feed. The horses don’t get stolen during broad daylight, and we still have a couple of hours before dark so come on inside, my wife is cooking dinner, I’m sure we can cook some extra to fill your bellies as a show of my gratitude.” Farmer Miller claps Nerius on the shoulder, and leads them all to the farmhouse.
Inside the smells of cooking permeate the air and there are several children dashing about madly, they seem to be playing tag. The farmer’s wife is a plain but pretty woman. She greets the party and welcomes them to stay and eat.
“So, you just raise the horses and sell them then?” Dajsan asks as he inspects a boiling pot while the wife has run to fetch some more chairs for the table.
“Actually, I give them a bit of training for riding as well. They sell much better if they have had some training, and it’s relatively easy to train them if you know what you are doing.” Farmer Miller blows on a ladle of hot soup, and sips it carefully. “Mmm, split pea soup, my favorite.”
The party sits down for a hearty meal of vegetables and a meager serving of meat as well. They gather from the large house and well-fed children that the farmer typically makes a good living. After dinner the farmer shows them to an area near around the creek where the horses drink, he is pretty sure that this where the horses are disappearing because this is the side that the forest borders on. “Them woods are haunted. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were evil spirits that are taking my horses. The horses are always over here by the creek at night.” Explains Farmer Miller. The party quickly finds various tracks around the creek and they decide to investigate the woods. They follow the tracks for several yards into the forest, but quickly lose the trail. Sesseress decides it is time to drink his potion of scent and gulps it down. He now has the senses of a bloodhound. His magically keen sense of smell leads the party deeper and deeper into the woodlands. They eventually come into an open area on the forest floor. In the center of the glen there is a large monument of some kind. There are four huge circular stones encircling a large monolithic pillar. There were once runes covering the stones, but they have worn away to be nearly indecipherable with time. The scent is strongest here, and there are no apparent paths leading away from the monolith.
Suddenly the party notices movement in the forest around them. There appear to be several humanoids that have them surrounded. Nerius spots one of them and it appears to be a hairy creature with goat horns. “Damn, Rhodin. I didn’t think they had come this far out of the mountains.”
The woodlands around the group are filled with growls and the thrashing of vegetation, the monsters are attempting to frighten and weaken the resolve of the party.
“If it’s a fight you want, then you shall have it!” Korigahn draws his Khopesh, bellowing a challenge.
“Come out and face us then, we are ready for you.” The towering Sadune’s booming voice calls out.
A growling crude voice comes from the bushes not far from the party’s location. “You leave and you not die today. We have plenty meat, no need to eat you if you leave.”
“We aren’t going anywhere! Let’s see what you are made of foul creature!” Nerius rapier flashes from its scabbard, drawn and ready in a blink.
With that, the creature stands from the bushes, and walks forward from the canopy shadows. The creature is tall, and is merely wearing the skin of a Rhodin. He is very large and muscular, and the man hefts his great-axe onto his shoulders, resting one hand on the handle casually.
“The disguise did not work. Why have you come here? This is a sacred place. We could kill you for your trespasses.” The enormous man steps forward, just about ten feet from the party. He is clearly human, though he is almost the size of a small giant.
“I’d like to see you try.” Dajsan’s eyes glow with a cold blue fury.
“Wait, we did not come here to start a fight. We have come seeking missing horses from the miller’s farm just east of here. Do you know anything about it?” Sadune steps in front of the man, more out of a need to keep the party separated from the huge man as a protective measure than as a threat.
“The horses are not missing, they are free. They are living creatures just like you and I, not items to be bartered and sold…or abused.” The large man’s knuckles are white on the handle of his great-axe.
“What? What do you mean abuse?” The entire party looks somewhat shocked.
“The farmer, his methods are somewhat harsh for horse training. We will continue to free them if he does not stop abusing them. If it does not stop there, if he buys more horses and continues to abuse them, then we will be forced to take more drastic measures and the farmer and his family could be in danger. The people of that city do not understand that it is us who defend this area from the Rhodin tribes that come down from the mountains, and we could just as easily let them pass and ravage this area if it suited our needs.” The huge man is very serious, he seems like an animal ready to kill for his territory.
“We… um, we were not aware of the farmer’s abusive nature. And we are sorry for trespassing on your lands, we were only doing what we believed to be right. We shall speak with the farmer about his abusive nature and try to get him to change his ways. I think that he will understand that it would be in his best interest.” Sadune explains.
“See to it that you do, the farmer has one week, or something bad will happen to his farm. I am Grizzle and these are my companions.” The large man gestures and figures emerge from the surrounding undergrowth all around the party. “This is Fang and Claw.” Two faen leap from the underbrush. “This is Feather Softly Falls.” A litorian woman with a longbow drops down from an overhead branch. “and this is our newest member, Cub” a familiar looking young man steps out from behind a tree with a hand axe in hand.
“HEY! I know you! You’re the stable boy right? What are you doing out here?” Cualth walks over to talk to the young man once named Jerim. When the rest of the party approaches they realize that he is the dung-shoveler from Marquette’s school.
“Yeah, it’s me alright. I thought I might like a change of pace from shoveling crap all day. I can finally be an adventurer like I’ve always wanted.” The young man looks really happy and the party congratulates him on his newfound wanderlust.
The two parties have a brief conversation and get to know each other a little. Grizzle gives Sadune a strange symbol made of feathers and twine and tells him that it shows he is a friend to other tribes of the Circle of Leaves. They say their farewells and Nerius, Sadune, Dajsan, Cualth, Korigahn, and Sesseress head back to the Miller’s farm. When they arrive, the farmer is no where to be found so they ask his wife where he is. She points to a hill and says “He is over there burying that poor lame horse.” The party exchanges concerned looks and they make their way over to the hill with a grim and determined demeanor.
Before anyone else can speak, Korigahn steps forward, a sparkle in his eye “Well Mr. Miller we have found the culprit responsible for your recent rash of equine thievery.” He flashes a toothy grin. Sadune chimes in “Yes, there is an angry forest spirit that we met with. It is very angry for the way you have been treating your animals.” Sadune looks at the farmer, the shovel and then at the fresh mound of earth and then back to the farmer.
The farmer looks to the mound, back to Sadune and then looks very frightened “I…I can explain, the horse was lame and diseases, it was suffering so I had to put it out of its misery. It’s the truth, honestly!” The farmer looks scared.
Korigahn steps forward, teeth showing in a sly canine smile “Listen, Mr. Miller. We spoke with the spirit and it knows all about everything that happens around this area. You can lie to us, but not to the spirit. It has seen you mistreating your animals, it watches the whole area around here, keeping it safe. It’s seen your wife naked!” The farmer looks shocked, Korigahn continues “I know, I know, shocking isn’t it? Just don’t mistreat your animals anymore and you should be safe alright?”
The farmer looks at the party, clearly convinced by the persuasive skills of Korigahn. “Well, I suppose I do lose my temper sometimes, I guess I’m just frustrated by the recent pressure to raise more horses since the business has recently picked up. I promise to take good care of my horses from now on. Ya hear that forest spirit!” The farmer thanks the party for resolving his problem, and wishes them fare well.
The six of them all head back into the city gates for a much deserved rest.
“I see only four men, how can we believe you have the house surrounded? And besides, even if you do, they wouldn’t be able to save you in time if you were to fight us.” Says Sadune as he glares at the leader.
Nerius reaches over and shuts the vault, producing looks of surprise from the party, and angry looks from the strangers. Nerius can’t help but smirk at the strangers.
“Open the vault and stand aside, our mission is of the utmost importance.” The red kerchief man looks angry.
“What is it that you seek within the vault? And for what purpose? Who are you anyway?” Sadune steps forward, protectively in front of Nerius causing the red kerchief man to look up to the tall dark skinned man.
“I should ask you the same question. My name is Jermaine, who are you and what is it that you seek?” He replies.
“We are students of Marquette’s School for the Magically Gifted and we seek a chest. We do not wish to fight you, but we cannot allow you to take anything from the vault.” Sadune now widens his stance, in case the man decides to charge him.
“Very well, we also seek a chest, but since I do not wish to see any bloodshed I will leave you with but a warning. Many seek the chest that you seek, and many would go to great lengths to obtain its contents. I suggest you watch your back. Ok men, let’s move out.” With that Jermaine adjusts his red kerchief and he and his men leave. Sadune follows them to make sure they leave. The party opens the vault again and everyone goes inside except Korigahn who is keeping watch. Within the vault is a twenty-foot but twenty-foot room. Contained in the vault are several scrolls on the walls, shelves lined with potions a few books and pieces of parchment, old letters, painting supplies, and other odds and ends. “Do you think this is the chest we seek?” Dajsan points out a small wooden chest sitting atop an old desk. “It could be” remarks Sesseress who has cast detect magic, “or it could be the magical chest in the corner beneath that old map, they both radiate magic.” He walks over and uncovers the chest in the corner. The chest is covered in several runes some of which he quickly recognizes. “This one means protection, this one means danger,” he says as he points “and this one means electricity I believe. It is most likely trapped. This means ‘owner’ as a possessive and this means ‘love.’ I can not read the others.” He says as he points to the others.
“Owner’s love. What could that be?” ponders Dajsan.
“I hate to interrupt, but this door is making some sort of noise!” Korigahn starts yelling from the doorway. The vault door then begins to slowly close itself, as Korigahn is attempting to keep it open. The party begins to bolt for the door, but it is too late, the vault has closed and locked itself, leaving the party pounding on the inside in complete darkness.
“OPEN THE DOOR KORIGAHN!!” The muffled shouts of the party reach Korigahn from the outside, but it sounds more like “ofen ma voor dorigahn!”
“I err…I wasn’t paying attention when you were opening it the first time!” Korigahn begins to get worried.
“WHAF?!?!” There is a simultaneous shout from within the vault.
“It’s ok, I’ll figure this thing out just give me a minute.” Korigahn begins to puzzle the locking mechanism.
Within the vault it is pitch black, the only light is just a very faint glowing coming from the metal chest in the corner, but it does not shed any light to see by. “Oh great, we are gonna be trapped in here for days with that idiot trying to get us out.” Nerius slams his hand against the door.
“No, not days, the air supply would not last that long, this vault seems to be air tight.” Notes Dajsan.
Sesseress takes advantage of the situation; he is the only one who can see in the pitch black. He looks around at all the bottles of magical liquids and scrolls of the arcane, and can’t help but to quietly help himself to these things. Just as he has finished tucking away a potion bottle, the door makes a loud “CLANG” and the vault opens. Korigahn is standing there with a smug grin on his face. “Well, we haven’t got all day, lets get that chest and get it back to Marquette.” The entire party agrees that they should take both chests, just in case, and open neither of them.
When they walk back down to the bottom of the house to the dock beneath the roots, they find that the boat is missing. “The other men must have taken the boat.” Cualth looks out into the swamp water, searching for any movement. “Well, I’ll just swim over and get the boat.” Nerius begins to remove his clothing and armor again. “I’ll go too.” Sadune removes his sandals and robes. When they reach the other side, dripping wet, it occurs to Nerius “The men in the house were not wet.”
“What?” Sadune is untying the boat.
“The men, they were not wet, they would have had to swim like us because the boat was already moored beneath the roots, or perhaps they were already in the house when we got there, and that is why the boat was already tied at the house.” Nerius climbs onto the boat with Sadune.
“But we searched the whole house and didn’t see anyone.” Sadune begins rowing, his muscular arms churning the oar through the water.
“Or they could have had their own boat I suppose, but I did not see a boat, and I don’t see one now.” Nerius looks around at the edges of the bog surrounding the tree house.
The party all board the boat and cross safely, they find their horses safely tied where they left them. The trip home is relatively uneventful; they see only wild animals such as deer until they get closer to the city around dark. As they are leaving the small shrubby forest that surrounds the swamp they meet passing merchants leaving town to points north. Sesseress notices something on the side of the wagon as it passes. There is a rather large crudely painted symbol on the side of the wagon that looks like a sword. The other members of the party don’t seem to notice and Sesseress says nothing. Closer to town there is another passing merchant wagon, and Sesseress notes that on the side of this wagon there is a symbol of a flask. He points it out to the party, but none of them seem to be able to see it. They hail the drivers and ask them if they have anything to sell. The merchant sells Nerius a potion and gives him a small slip of paper that says “Pedigo’s Peculiar Potion Guarantee.”
The party continues on into the city after being let into the gates. They are passing through near the jail when they hear howling like some great monster coming from inside of the prison. They stop some drunken men leaving a tavern and ask about the howling. The men tell them about a monster that the mayor supposedly interrogates monthly. He takes a trip there once a month and there are always howls coming from the prison. Outside of college town (the walled enclosure where the school is located) Nerius finds a small gray dog with matted hair that wags it’s tail and begs for food. Nerius feeds him and sort of adopts the stray. They return the horses, and take the chest to Marquette. They are greeted by the butler at the door, a rotund man with a bird-like nose named Mr. Gurnd. He promptly shows them to a waiting room and after about half an hour, just when the party begins to doze off on the cushiony furniture, Marquette arrives, energetic as ever, though it is apparent that he has been sleeping.
“Ah yes, so you have returned! And how fares Barom?” Marquette is in his pajamas, and is wearing a pointy sleeping cap, his pajama pants also cover his feet, and it almost looks like he is wearing a combination of socks and pants.
“We have brought you the chest, two chests actually because we wanted to make sure to have the right one. Barom was nowhere to be found, but Sadune did find a pipe with some blood in it lying on the floor near his hearth.” Nerius and the others hand over the two chests.
“Barom wasn’t there you say? That does not bode well at all. It sounds like something terrible may have happened.” He looks thoughtful for a moment and mumbles something under his breath. “Ah yes, the metal one is the right one, but I wonder what is in the other?” Marquette opens the small wooden chest and the others flinch slightly, half expecting a trap of some sort. Within the small wooden chest are revealed different types of gems and coinage. “Ah yes, old coins and spell catalysts.” Then he looks at the metal chest, reading the old runes and carvings on it and speaks a word “Levatorium” and the small chest begins to float about two feet from the surface of the table. “Yes, Mr. Gurnd please see to it that this is taken to my study, and make sure that no one opens it.” The butler leads the chest by a handle out of the room.
“So, Barom is missing, this has me worried. I will have to look into it, but you have all done well for your first assignment, here is a minor thanks for your troubles.” He hands each of the students 50 gold pieces. “Also, your agent has found you some jobs, he wishes to meet with you bright and early in the morning. By my reckoning it is just past midnight so I suggest returning to your rooms for some much needed rest.” With that Marquette bids the students goodnight and they all return to the dorms.
Crazy Jim, the janitor, is at the front steps of the dormitory, feeding the small winged cat that can often be found wandering around campus. “Yes, my sweetie, it’s good isn’t it, eat up. You’re the only one who really appreciates me aren’t you sweetie? Yes I know, I agree, I understand, but you have to be more reasonable. Why would you say that? You don’t really mean it? Yes yes, of course I love you.” Crazy Jim stops talking to the cat abruptly when the party approaches and looks annoyed. “What are ye doing up this late? And why did you bring this mutt in here?” He regards the shaggy gray dog with disgust. “Well, why are ye just standing there? Get to sleep.”
“What’s his name?” Sesseress asks, regarding the winged cat.
“Well, I’m not sure really, he hasn’t told me his real name, I do know his truename however, but I can’t tell you that, cuz you could use some kinda vicious spell on him and curse him or something.” Crazy Jim’s Eyes get wide and he looks at the whole party without blinking for a long time.
Everyone but Nerius goes into the dorm “Goodnight Jim” they all say to him as they pass, they are used to him being crazy and talking to the cat.
“Listen, Jim, I was wondering, would you be so kind as to watch my dog for me tonight? I don’t think he would hesitate to use the bathroom in the dormitory floor, and I think we could just avoid that mess if you would tie him up somewhere and get him some food for me.” Nerius tries to be persuasive.
“Well, he don’t seem like he wants to eat my sweetie too much, so I’ll watch him for ya tonight, but ya best come for him in the morning.” Jim eyes the shaggy dog, the dog just stands there with his tongue hanging out of his mouth looking back. Jim walks over and pets the dog on the head.
“Well goodnight Jim, I’ll see you in the morning.” Nerius disappears into the dormitory and the students all get some much-needed sleep.
The next morning, another student, who tells them that someone is waiting for them downstairs, awakens them. Each of the party gets up, gets dressed, and relieves themselves. They all go downstairs into the sitting room where there is a nicely dressed man waiting for them. “Greetings friends, I am Jared. I was assigned by Marquette to find you jobs that are suitable for adventurers such as yourselves. It took some time, but I think I may have found some things that require attention in the city that might be suitable to your expertise.” He is a young man, probably of about thirty years, nicely dressed and clean-shaven. “Let’s see. First of all, just last night the Secretary of Treasury has been murdered in his office. The city guard is short handed and they are looking for anyone with a clean background and detective skills to help them puzzle out the murder. Also there are several horses missing from the surrounding area, mostly missing from the Miller’s horse farm, but a few in the city as well. Also, the local goblin catcher seems to have gotten lazy, as goblins are very numerous in the city lately and the mayor is offering 1 gold piece per two goblin ears, just the left ones of course. Well, do any of these sound to your liking?” Jared looks positive and smiles at the party.
“Hmm, I suppose we could help with the goblin problem first, I think the murder of a city official is a little above our station to investigate.” Korigahn looks around at the others. “What say you?”
“I think we should look into the murder. It like that would be the area that needs the most attention at the moment.” Nerius argues, looking smugly at Korigahn.
“I think we should help the goblin catcher as well, the murder will be well investigated by the city guard I think.” Adds Dajsan.
The party finally agrees to go help the goblin catcher. The agent gives them directions to each of the places for the jobs. The goblin catcher’s home is on the docks, where he lives in a houseboat. The party makes their way there, and when they near the docks, they see a woman surrounded by little green and brown goblins. They are all tearing her things off of her, taking her possessions, her shoes, and anything else they can tear away.
“Stop this at once you miscreants or prepare to face my wrath!” Korigahn draws his Key weapon, his Khopesh, as a challenge.
The goblins stop what they are doing and make a strange noise, sort of a gurgling growl and start making little hissing and clacking noises at each other. Then, from the alleyways on either side of the party just in front of them, pour forth more goblins. The party rushes forth, with Nerius, Sadune and Korigahn leading the charge, they slam into the goblin horde, and steel and spell tear apart their ranks and send them cowering and running into the streets. The fight is too easy, and the party starts to regret their slaughter. There are several dead goblins at their feet, about 8 of them. Sesseress starts to cut off an ear, but feels sickened and stops. “It does not seem right.” he says, looking up at the rest of the party.
“Yes, I agree, they are probably just hungry, the woman is not hurt, and it looks like they were trying to steal the bread she was carrying.” Sadune helps the lady up and she thanks him. He gives her some silver to buy more bread.
“I don’t think we should do this really, but let us see the goblin catcher anyway. Perhaps there are bigger problems that need attention.” Dajsan is searching the goblins for anything out of the ordinary. He finds nothing.
The party continues on to the docks, informing the city guard of the mess they left in the streets after their passing. They find the goblin catcher’s houseboat and approach it, trying not to step on the old fish heads that flies are swarming on the dock.
“This looks more like a floating shack than a house.” Korigahn turns up his nose to the stench of the fish. “And that smell is HIDEOUS.”
“Anybody home?” Nerius knocks on the door. There is no answer, so he peeks his head into one of the window flaps. He hears loud snoring and by the dim light he is letting in, he can see a filthy hovel with a small cot with the form of a man curled on top of it. There are bottles and cups scattered all over the place, along with old nets and fishing poles, and dirty clothes, it smells worse inside of the boat than it does on the fish rot smelling docks. “Hello! Hey there! Are you the goblin catcher?” Nerius calls to the man.
“Whuh? Uh, what the hell?” He rolls out of bed looking around. “Oh my aching head. Who the hell are you?” He steps out of the boat in his underwear, unscrews a flask and takes a deep guzzling swig.
“We are students from the school, we were told you needed help with goblin catching.” Nerius offers.
“Don’t need no help, now get out of here.” The man hawks and spits into the water, watching the fish eat it, he chuckles slightly to himself, “Stupid fish.”
“Ok, well it’s time to go, I don’t want to help this wretched man slaughter any vermin.” Korigahn turns and begins to go.
“I agree. I don’t feel comfortable slaughtering intelligent creatures, even if they are a nuisance.” Says Cualth.
“Sorry we have wasted your time sir.” Nerius turns to leave with the rest of the party in tow.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit early to start drinking.” Quips Sesseress as he turns to leave. He is pretty sure he hears the drunken goblin catcher mumble the words “race traitor” but decides to let it pass.
The party decides to travel to the horse farm where all the horses have been coming up missing. They leave the city by way of the northern gate and come upon the horse farm. The Miller’s ranch seems like any of the other farms around RiverBend. It is situated in the rolling grass hills beyond the city. There is a very large fenced in area that holds several horses and the party eventually finds Farmer Miller brushing some of the horses in the barn.
“What can I do for you fellas? Interested in buying a horse? These are going to market tomorrow, some of my finest steeds. I’ll even cut you a deal.” Farmer Miller is a middle-aged man with a wrinkled face. His skin is tan from working outside all the time, and his overalls are covered in dirt
“Actually, we have been sent here to help you with your horse problem.” Nerius adjusts his leather hat.
“You are?” Farmer Miller looks at the group, seeming to study them. “Well, it’s about time somebody came to help me out here. I’ve already lost eight horses just within the last few weeks!” Farmer Miller’s voice takes on an angry tone.
“Well sir, I assure you as a man of honor that we shall do our best to assist you in this manner.” Korigahn straightens his back and tries to look dashing.
“Well, I certainly hope you boys can help an old farmer out. This is putting me out of business here, and I have children to feed. The horses don’t get stolen during broad daylight, and we still have a couple of hours before dark so come on inside, my wife is cooking dinner, I’m sure we can cook some extra to fill your bellies as a show of my gratitude.” Farmer Miller claps Nerius on the shoulder, and leads them all to the farmhouse.
Inside the smells of cooking permeate the air and there are several children dashing about madly, they seem to be playing tag. The farmer’s wife is a plain but pretty woman. She greets the party and welcomes them to stay and eat.
“So, you just raise the horses and sell them then?” Dajsan asks as he inspects a boiling pot while the wife has run to fetch some more chairs for the table.
“Actually, I give them a bit of training for riding as well. They sell much better if they have had some training, and it’s relatively easy to train them if you know what you are doing.” Farmer Miller blows on a ladle of hot soup, and sips it carefully. “Mmm, split pea soup, my favorite.”
The party sits down for a hearty meal of vegetables and a meager serving of meat as well. They gather from the large house and well-fed children that the farmer typically makes a good living. After dinner the farmer shows them to an area near around the creek where the horses drink, he is pretty sure that this where the horses are disappearing because this is the side that the forest borders on. “Them woods are haunted. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were evil spirits that are taking my horses. The horses are always over here by the creek at night.” Explains Farmer Miller. The party quickly finds various tracks around the creek and they decide to investigate the woods. They follow the tracks for several yards into the forest, but quickly lose the trail. Sesseress decides it is time to drink his potion of scent and gulps it down. He now has the senses of a bloodhound. His magically keen sense of smell leads the party deeper and deeper into the woodlands. They eventually come into an open area on the forest floor. In the center of the glen there is a large monument of some kind. There are four huge circular stones encircling a large monolithic pillar. There were once runes covering the stones, but they have worn away to be nearly indecipherable with time. The scent is strongest here, and there are no apparent paths leading away from the monolith.
Suddenly the party notices movement in the forest around them. There appear to be several humanoids that have them surrounded. Nerius spots one of them and it appears to be a hairy creature with goat horns. “Damn, Rhodin. I didn’t think they had come this far out of the mountains.”
The woodlands around the group are filled with growls and the thrashing of vegetation, the monsters are attempting to frighten and weaken the resolve of the party.
“If it’s a fight you want, then you shall have it!” Korigahn draws his Khopesh, bellowing a challenge.
“Come out and face us then, we are ready for you.” The towering Sadune’s booming voice calls out.
A growling crude voice comes from the bushes not far from the party’s location. “You leave and you not die today. We have plenty meat, no need to eat you if you leave.”
“We aren’t going anywhere! Let’s see what you are made of foul creature!” Nerius rapier flashes from its scabbard, drawn and ready in a blink.
With that, the creature stands from the bushes, and walks forward from the canopy shadows. The creature is tall, and is merely wearing the skin of a Rhodin. He is very large and muscular, and the man hefts his great-axe onto his shoulders, resting one hand on the handle casually.
“The disguise did not work. Why have you come here? This is a sacred place. We could kill you for your trespasses.” The enormous man steps forward, just about ten feet from the party. He is clearly human, though he is almost the size of a small giant.
“I’d like to see you try.” Dajsan’s eyes glow with a cold blue fury.
“Wait, we did not come here to start a fight. We have come seeking missing horses from the miller’s farm just east of here. Do you know anything about it?” Sadune steps in front of the man, more out of a need to keep the party separated from the huge man as a protective measure than as a threat.
“The horses are not missing, they are free. They are living creatures just like you and I, not items to be bartered and sold…or abused.” The large man’s knuckles are white on the handle of his great-axe.
“What? What do you mean abuse?” The entire party looks somewhat shocked.
“The farmer, his methods are somewhat harsh for horse training. We will continue to free them if he does not stop abusing them. If it does not stop there, if he buys more horses and continues to abuse them, then we will be forced to take more drastic measures and the farmer and his family could be in danger. The people of that city do not understand that it is us who defend this area from the Rhodin tribes that come down from the mountains, and we could just as easily let them pass and ravage this area if it suited our needs.” The huge man is very serious, he seems like an animal ready to kill for his territory.
“We… um, we were not aware of the farmer’s abusive nature. And we are sorry for trespassing on your lands, we were only doing what we believed to be right. We shall speak with the farmer about his abusive nature and try to get him to change his ways. I think that he will understand that it would be in his best interest.” Sadune explains.
“See to it that you do, the farmer has one week, or something bad will happen to his farm. I am Grizzle and these are my companions.” The large man gestures and figures emerge from the surrounding undergrowth all around the party. “This is Fang and Claw.” Two faen leap from the underbrush. “This is Feather Softly Falls.” A litorian woman with a longbow drops down from an overhead branch. “and this is our newest member, Cub” a familiar looking young man steps out from behind a tree with a hand axe in hand.
“HEY! I know you! You’re the stable boy right? What are you doing out here?” Cualth walks over to talk to the young man once named Jerim. When the rest of the party approaches they realize that he is the dung-shoveler from Marquette’s school.
“Yeah, it’s me alright. I thought I might like a change of pace from shoveling crap all day. I can finally be an adventurer like I’ve always wanted.” The young man looks really happy and the party congratulates him on his newfound wanderlust.
The two parties have a brief conversation and get to know each other a little. Grizzle gives Sadune a strange symbol made of feathers and twine and tells him that it shows he is a friend to other tribes of the Circle of Leaves. They say their farewells and Nerius, Sadune, Dajsan, Cualth, Korigahn, and Sesseress head back to the Miller’s farm. When they arrive, the farmer is no where to be found so they ask his wife where he is. She points to a hill and says “He is over there burying that poor lame horse.” The party exchanges concerned looks and they make their way over to the hill with a grim and determined demeanor.
Before anyone else can speak, Korigahn steps forward, a sparkle in his eye “Well Mr. Miller we have found the culprit responsible for your recent rash of equine thievery.” He flashes a toothy grin. Sadune chimes in “Yes, there is an angry forest spirit that we met with. It is very angry for the way you have been treating your animals.” Sadune looks at the farmer, the shovel and then at the fresh mound of earth and then back to the farmer.
The farmer looks to the mound, back to Sadune and then looks very frightened “I…I can explain, the horse was lame and diseases, it was suffering so I had to put it out of its misery. It’s the truth, honestly!” The farmer looks scared.
Korigahn steps forward, teeth showing in a sly canine smile “Listen, Mr. Miller. We spoke with the spirit and it knows all about everything that happens around this area. You can lie to us, but not to the spirit. It has seen you mistreating your animals, it watches the whole area around here, keeping it safe. It’s seen your wife naked!” The farmer looks shocked, Korigahn continues “I know, I know, shocking isn’t it? Just don’t mistreat your animals anymore and you should be safe alright?”
The farmer looks at the party, clearly convinced by the persuasive skills of Korigahn. “Well, I suppose I do lose my temper sometimes, I guess I’m just frustrated by the recent pressure to raise more horses since the business has recently picked up. I promise to take good care of my horses from now on. Ya hear that forest spirit!” The farmer thanks the party for resolving his problem, and wishes them fare well.
The six of them all head back into the city gates for a much deserved rest.
rootbeergnome
First Post
Thanks a lot Jaws, I will keep posting! Things have been a bit busy as of late, and I haven't finished typing up the third session yet. We just played the fourth session last night and it was great! A lot of things came together and you will get to read about it, but first I must finish the third session with the mad bomber action!
Korigahn The Duelist
First Post
Rootbeer Gnome, you are a foul revisionist! I have read your so-called history of our (but mostly my) adventures, and I am shocked at how much you have downplayed my bravery and various scathing witticisms! You know that I am by far the most voiciferous of our party! I am the one who challenges our adversaries! I am the one who dispatches foes most skillfully, daringly and most importantly, with the most pinache! Yet, in your amateurish fiction of these events, I am reduced to equal standing with people who barely say a word at all! You put words into the mouth of that low-born braggart Danesong, to make him seem as witty as I, when we both know that the only responses he ever makes to me are cheap and low comments about my racial heritage! Such knavery clearly denotes a man of poor upbringing and low moral fiber, while my clever barbs and jabs are the hallmark of a true master of the crowning insult, an important element to proper swordplay, as all skilled in the art would agree! You say that that mute spryte make jokes at my expense? That is news to me, and I pride myself on having sharp hearing! He is so diminuative, in fact, that I have forgotten his name!
I expect that in the future, I will be given my proper (and well-earned) spotlight in these narratives! My wits, swordsmanship and sense of style are the heart and soul of this adventuring band, and everyone should know it!
I expect that in the future, I will be given my proper (and well-earned) spotlight in these narratives! My wits, swordsmanship and sense of style are the heart and soul of this adventuring band, and everyone should know it!
Korigahn The Duelist
First Post
Berandor said:
Thanks be to you! It is good to see that at least one of you respects the merits of a worthy heir to the title of a "Sibbecai Swordsman"! We are not mere skirmishers, and for one to truely hold that vaunted title, his wits must be as keen as his blade! I am glad that you see through Rootbeer Gnome's falsehoods that he wrote, innocently and unknowingly (O ye Gods, pray that it be so!). I respectfully salute you, Berandor, and recognize your sage cognizance!
Sadune The Wanderer
First Post
Korrighan, if Rootbeergnome documented every time you went off the handle during one of our adventures he wouldn't have enough time to eat or sleep, let alone update this thread.
Although, I do agree that he does censor a quite a few details, such as the fact that Grizzle and his crew were pretty bent on burning down the horse trader's house and, not to rob you of any of your credit for wanting to put your khopesh inside anything with a pulse, I had to point out the fact that if Grizzle did do that, the local garrison would come in and wipe them out, whether or not the trader did mistreat his horses.
But anyway, can't wait to see what we do next...<hint, hint (and by hint, hint, I mean start working on our next adventure!)>
Although, I do agree that he does censor a quite a few details, such as the fact that Grizzle and his crew were pretty bent on burning down the horse trader's house and, not to rob you of any of your credit for wanting to put your khopesh inside anything with a pulse, I had to point out the fact that if Grizzle did do that, the local garrison would come in and wipe them out, whether or not the trader did mistreat his horses.
But anyway, can't wait to see what we do next...<hint, hint (and by hint, hint, I mean start working on our next adventure!)>
Lela
First Post
Wooo, hooo, finally caught up. You're doing a masterful job Rootbeergnome, even leaving aside overblown party egos.
I recenty started my own Arcanna Unearthed campaign--which is what drew me to the thread--and I look forward to seeing how your's works out. From party intereaction to combat styles, I can't wait to see more.
Looking forward to the next update,
I recenty started my own Arcanna Unearthed campaign--which is what drew me to the thread--and I look forward to seeing how your's works out. From party intereaction to combat styles, I can't wait to see more.
Looking forward to the next update,
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