S2: War in Vastermarch - Completed

[Boddynock]

Banion is aproved at level 6 by one character Judge. Are we requiring two now?

Yes, we are.

IC: Eusebius executes a tight bow as the high priest approaches them. Looking around to make sure they are not overheard, he says, "Benedicite! I am Eusebius, monk and cleric of our Lord Hyrag. I was sent by Verbotem the Chosen, high priest of the Temple in Orussus, to seek out Torvin Arkenthrasher, since he disappeared while on a mission for the Temple, then reappeared, somehow changed."

"My companions and I travelled north to find him - and eventually did so, in an underground complex situated in the farm land of a man called Aif Jenkins. You may know of whom I speak. Torvin had been horribly tortured. It is a testament to his strength of spirit - or perhaps to the torturer's skill - that he survived at all."

Eusebius looks around again before leaning forward, lowering his voice still further.

"Father, what do you know of an ancient relic of evil which the orcs venerate - a halfscythe the size of a longsword, with a serrated inner edge? It looks plain and ordinary - yet there are those who are willing to kill, and to die, for it."

"I cannot be sure, Father - but I suspect that somehow the paladin Torvin Arkenthrasher has come under its sway."

 

[Bront]

Juliana can approach Captain Carter in the temple or can stay with Eusebius and Torvin.

OOC: Thought I was supposed to meet him last night. Men, can never rely on them. She'll stick around for a bit till she's sure things are in hand with Torvin, so probably for quite a while.

 

[Manzanita]

The old cleric listens to Eusebius patiently. "I know nothing of a halfscythe venerated by orcs. I do know of Aif Jenkins and Verbotem the Chosen. Greetings, Eusebius, and welcome to Braeholl. It is an honor to have another of Hyrag's chosen with us today. I have known Torvin for years. He was a good man before he became a Paladin of The Lightbringer. And he has served the cause well since. Aif Jenkins is a farmer, to the South of here, is he not. He was a responsible member of the militia in his day, but I know little else about him."

"What do you know of this evil weapon? Do you know where it is? What do you think we should do?"

---
Tharok's eyes dart around. "You would free me, then, for information you could count as true? If you would but untie me, and distract the others breifly, I could free myself, I think. What do you want to know?"

---
Banion, Nodis and Talbin locate the garrish purple and green shop near the mill. A sign identifies it as "The Half-Filled Goblet." Inside are an eclectic variety of thieves tools, magical components, and musical intruments. A bespecled gnome greets the trio and tells them, "Mr. Knezer isn't here at the moment. He's helping the militia with the orc problem at the moment. He's a terribly compentent wizard, you know. His skills are much in demand. You could try to find him at the headquarters near the gate. But have you seen our fine selection of furry boots, and magnifying lenses?" he asks the halflings. "It's the best selection you'll find north of Orussus."

 

[SlagMortar]

Tharok's eyes dart around. "You would free me, then, for information you could count as true? If you would but untie me, and distract the others breifly, I could free myself, I think. What do you want to know?"

"Not exactly. In order to gain your freedom, you need three things: your life, your health, and my help. Presently, you have none of these things. You must earn them with information. First, I would know something you think I would find useful that can be independently verified. Second, I would know what you want with this orcish weapon. If I catch you in a lie, or even a misleading truth, we are done and you lose all three - first my help, then your sanity, and finally your life."

 

[Boddynock]

"Not exactly. In order to gain your freedom, you need three things: your life, your health, and my help. Presently, you have none of these things. You must earn them with information. First, I would know something you think I would find useful that can be independently verified. Second, I would know what you want with this orcish weapon. If I catch you in a lie, or even a misleading truth, we are done and you lose all three - first my help, then your sanity, and finally your life."

OOC: Hey, SlagMortar, remind me not to get you riled!

 

[Boddynock]

The old cleric listens to Eusebius patiently. "I know nothing of a halfscythe venerated by orcs. I do know of Aif Jenkins and Verbotem the Chosen. Greetings, Eusebius, and welcome to Braeholl. It is an honor to have another of Hyrag's chosen with us today. I have known Torvin for years. He was a good man before he became a Paladin of The Lightbringer. And he has served the cause well since. Aif Jenkins is a farmer, to the South of here, is he not. He was a responsible member of the militia in his day, but I know little else about him."

"What do you know of this evil weapon? Do you know where it is? What do you think we should do?"

Eusebius bows in response to the high priest's welcome, and then again in response to his words about Torvin.

"What you tell me accords with what I have heard of this good man. Yet I fear that his experiences at the hands of those who held him prisoner - a group in opposition to the orcs, for they were attacked by them - may have put a stain on his soul. Either that, or some direct exposure to the weapon he seeks may have entrapped his will in some dark way. Certainly, he appeared obsessed with laying his hands on it, could it only be found."

"Father, do you have some way of looking into his soul, to see if there is some sickness within which the Bright One's grace might cleanse and heal?"

 

[Manzanita]

Tharok smiles. "I can work with you. And I can do as you ask. We must seal the bargain, though. First, give me some water. I am very thirsty & can hardly talk. Second, swear on your god, on Hyrag, that you will release me unharmed if I do as you bid. We will part with respect. I will not harm you if we meet again in different circumstances."

---
The old cleric wavers on his feet. His acolyte subtly slides a chair beneath him, and he sinks his skinny frame onto the support. "Brother Eusebius, I can detect evil, as can you, but I have not prepared such a spell today. My spells are all for healing or for aiding the battle. I would like to bring Torvin around. It is dangerous to leave him in this state. My heart ails, too, to see him thus. What do you think he would do if we were to revive him? And tell me more of this weapon? Do you have it? We must make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands."

 

[B4cchus]

Banion, Nodis and Talbin locate the garrish purple and green shop near the mill. A sign identifies it as "The Half-Filled Goblet." Inside are an eclectic variety of thieves tools, magical components, and musical intruments. A bespecled gnome greets the trio and tells them, "Mr. Knezer isn't here at the moment. He's helping the militia with the orc problem at the moment. He's a terribly compentent wizard, you know. His skills are much in demand. You could try to find him at the headquarters near the gate. But have you seen our fine selection of furry boots, and magnifying lenses?" he asks the halflings. "It's the best selection you'll find north of Orussus."

"Well, we better head to the headquarters near the gate then! You really have some wonderfull things here I must say. Maybe I will come back later after I have found Mr. Knezer."

Talbin suggests to the rest to head for the headquarters near the gate.

 

[SlagMortar]

OOC: Hey, SlagMortar, remind me not to get you riled!

OOC: It's not me, it's Beamer. He's the bad one. Shh! Don't wake him!

IC: At Tharok's smile, 'Johnny Irons' frowns. "Then I see you still do not understand. I make no bargains with dead men. I will return in 20 minutes with a cup of water and a brand from the fire. You will decide which you want." Beamer checks the half-orc's bonds, reapplies a gag, and asks another to keep an eye one him.

 

[Manzanita]

Most of the soldiers in the barracks are heading out. Some to guard the perimeter, and many to go out on patrol. There are no orcs visible from the town, and several soldiers ask the adventurers to go out on patrol with them. They plan to find orcs, and if so, do battle.

OOC for the players
[sblock] S2 is almost complete. I hadn't anticipated Tharok's capture nor Torvin's being rendered unconscious, so we do have some extra subplots. S3 revolves around a certain quest, which I'm sure some of you can already guess at.

I haven't heard from Ogrin or Razh for some time. Perhaps this is because they feel a bit left out of the plot line at this point. This is, unfortunately, mostly true. I do miss this dynamic duo. I'm perhaps more fond of these two than any other pair of LEW PCs, the only exception being Gorefoot & Nars. If anyone wants to head out, and get back to the RDI, that's fine, just go on patrol with the soldiers. I suppose some sort of treasure division would be appropriate before that. Let me put a list together for you, as I don't know that any of you have really been keeping track.

S3 is a much different adventure than S2. I don't anticipate a whole lot of combat, and some of that combat will be different. In the 'you're naked under a volcano' sort of different, though different than that, of course. There is no obvious reward waiting in S3, so those who aren't of good alignment or lack other motivations for the quest might not want to continue. I think it would run best with 4 to 6 PCs, though I'm happy to take all 8 of you if everyone wants to continue. [/sblock]