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Message: <blockquote data-quote="el-remmen" data-source="post: 4171628" data-attributes="member: 11">Session #21– “The Journey Home” (part 3 of 3)Anulem, the 7th of Ese - 566 H.E. (637 M.Y.)A week later, the Signers of the Charter of Schiereiland were in <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Wesmearshire" target="_blank">Wesmearshire</a>.  The intervening time had been spent moving steadily northward, sometimes east and sometimes west, seemingly at Kermit’s whim.  They spent their meal breaks and time around camp endlessly discussing a party name, but could not even agree on the necessity of a name.  Laarus and Victoria were against any sort of name at all. “If we are to have a name, then let us be named as is the tradition when children are named here in Thricia, rather than be so arrogant as to name ourselves,” Laarus said.“It does seem like a foolish exercise,” Victoria insisted.But the others did not want to get stuck with a name someone else came up with, and so several possibilities were bandied about.  Finally, ‘the Sons of Thricia’ became the name least objectionable to the group, though no actual vote was held. [sup]1[/sup]Three days after the battle with the landshark, they caught sight of two of large wagons full of coal, pulled by immense oxen, and led by a group of <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/dwarves" target="_blank">dwarves</a>, <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Halflings" target="_blank">halflings</a>, <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Gnomes" target="_blank">gnomes</a> and two <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Humans" target="_blank">humans</a>.  They were fording the <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/River+Takken" target="_blank">River Takken</a>, heading east, while the Signers and their hirelings were skirting the western shore of it. The coal wagons were headed towards a route that would be easy for their wagons to get past the <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Border+Rift" target="_blank">Border Rift</a>, but were worried about assaults by bandits.   They were called ‘<a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/search/view/The+Coal+Black+Riders" target="_blank">The Coal Black Riders</a>’.“We have to get through Throat Leech Pass in order to get to <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/New+Harbinger" target="_blank">New Harbinger</a> from here,” the dwarf named Werkal told Markos and Tim, who were chosen to ride ahead and parley with the merchants.  Werkal had a brown beard stained black by coal dust and bright blue eyes behind his blackened face.  He wore studded leather and carried a battle-axe over his shoulder. “We know there is an old ambush point that overlooks the pass, so if your group wanted… You could keep whatever loot you found there if you accompany us and then go ahead and take out the bandits before we arrive at the pass, taking them by surprise.  We cannot afford to do so ourselves and leave the wagons unprotected.” Markos and Timotheus brought this offer back to the others, but only Telémahkos and Timotheus were immediately eager to do it. “I have a letter to deliver to Jacoba from Ethan,” Bleys explained. [sup]2[/sup] The route these dwarves intended to take would avoid <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Border+Shires" target="_blank">the Border Shires</a> completely.  Kermit refused to go with them if they decided to go, saying he did not sign on to go there, but to guide them to and from the Border Shires.After a brief discussion it was agreed that if not for the message they would have accompanied the Coal Black Riders, but as it was they could not.  Timotheus rode back to give them the news.“Eh, that okay… We weren’t really expecting you to help anyway, but figured we’d ask…” the dwarf grew gruff. “Well, next time you are in Sluetelot make sure you all swing by <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Death+%26+Taxes" target="_blank">Death & Taxes</a>,” Timotheus said, smiling apologetically. “We’ll make sure to leave you a standing round of drinks there.”“Yeah, sure… So what do you call yourselves?” Werkal asked.  “You know, so we can say…”“Timotheus Smith and his Mystery Men,” Tim replied with a big smile.Three days later as they spotted the western end of the Border Rift on the gray horizon the young nobles were clobbered with a torrential rain.  It was the first time it had rained since they left for the <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Disputed+Territories" target="_blank">Disputed Territories</a>, and whatever relief it brought to them was soon forgotten in the relentless of the downpour over the next few days.The crude sledge the statue was being dragged on had to be refastened with ropes every few miles, as it increasingly fell apart. It also held the weight of the landshark’s head, preserved for later display as a trophy, but currently under a spare dirty woolen blanket.Crossing the River Takken on the ferry, they collapsed in Kermit’s cottage in <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Tunbury" target="_blank">Tunbury</a>, some sleeping out in the small hay-covered barn that served as Duck-hunter’s den.  The next day Kermit was paid an estimate of what his share would be with an agreement that if it turned out that the actual amount once everything was appraised and sold would mean he had underpaid by more than twenty-five silver pieces [sup]3[/sup] then he wanted the rest sent to him, but that if it turned out he was overpaid at all, or underpaid by less than that amount, he would be satisfied.  Bleys trusted his rough arithmetic and agreed to this on behalf of the group.By afternoon they were being led into Thistlewoodshire by a stout halfling riding a donkey.  Pigeons had been sent back and forth and Jacoba the Brown was alerted of their coming. Tambur was to guide them to Ficklebrook Well.<a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Jacoba+the+Brown" target="_blank">Jacoba the Brown</a> was zaftig.  She had a pleasing round face and apple cheeks and hair cut short at her chin She showed deep dimples when she smiled. She looked almost pink in her pallor. She was not much taller than the tallfellow halflings of the local shire.   She had a low cottage built amid a cluster of burrows along a thin lazy river. Halflings of all ages began to gather to see the landshark head as it was pulled up to her house, and there were coos of admiration for the prowess in defeating such a monster.Jacoba greeted them effusively, and recognized Markos and Laarus from functions associated with <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/House+Curen" target="_blank">House Curen</a>, as she was a noble from <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/House+Brill" target="_blank">House Brill</a> who also pledged fealty to that great house.  Once they were inside and could admit that Ethan the Pearl sent them her demeanor changed a bit.“I am happy that Ethan has worthy priests and warriors to aid in his noble cause, but I must warn you as I am sure he did…” The teapot in the kitchen began to squeal and she stood to attend to it, but stopped and looked at each of them. “You can risk no indiscretion on this matter… Your own safety, that of your loved ones and the hope of victory over such evil forces counts on it.” “What can you tell us about <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Delorius+of+the+Nine" target="_blank">Delorius Nathanlus</a>?” Bleys asked when Jacoba returned with the tray of tea and biscuits.“Last I heard she was in Neergaard, raising coin from disaffected nobles there… Or at least trying… in order to fund her schemes,” Jacoba replied. “She is no longer associated with… her former associates, and if she were to return to Thricia she would likely be arrested.”“Do you know the name Stanislaw Torn?” Bleys asked.“Hmm… Yes, it does sound familiar…” Jacoba said. “Does he not have some association with the Vandermoks?  I think I heard that he fathered some Vandermok child… a daughter.  That family always has some kind of dispute and controversy going on…”“It is Maeve?  Is Maeve his daughter?” Timotheus asked, happy that he was putting clues together.“<a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Maeve+the+Mauve" target="_blank">Maeve the Mauve</a>? No…” Jacoba shook her head with a smile.  “Everyone knows who her parents are… The rumor is regarding someone unknown… Or less known child of that house… It is hard for me to stay on top of the noble gossip being out here in the Border Shires…” She sighed.  “Sometimes I miss the comforts of home and the noble life, but then I remember…”She stopped and looked around.  “Well… I have no pleasant way to put it…”“Then put it unpleasantly, we don’t mind,” Timotheus replied.“Oh, I just am not enamored of the superficial obligations of the noble life,” Jacoba said with a weak smile.“I know exactly what you mean,” Markos said.  “Is there other news you can share with us?”“Yes, <a href="http://what news on the Dwarf Wall" target="_blank">what news on the Dwarf Wall</a>?” Bleys asked.Jacoba the Brown explained that recent news coming out of the east was that the <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Herman+Land" target="_blank">Kingdom of Herman Land</a> was now enforcing tougher laws and restrictions upon indentured servants.  “It is a kind of de facto slavery, according to the outcry of followers of <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Nephthys" target="_blank">Nephthys</a>,” she said.“And this is due to the war effort?” Victoria of Anhur asked.“Yes… Ostensibly…” Jacoba said.“Then the <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Black+Islands+Barony" target="_blank">Black Islands</a> have already won,” the militant replied.“Anything more local?” Bleys asked.There was word of some kind of riot in the harbor district of Sluetelot, a huge brawl involving or amid the dockworkers there, but Jacoba had no details.As it was <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Holiday+-+Remembrance+Day" target="_blank">Remembrance Day</a>, the <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Charter+of+Schiereiland" target="_blank">Signers of the Charter of Schiereiland</a> spent the rest of the afternoon in mournful remembrance of friends and family who have fallen in battle, led in prayer by Victoria.  In the evening they broke open a bottle of wine and Jacoba arranged for a small cask of ale to be brought to them, as the shared more joyful memories of those brothers-in-arms.During a quiet moment, Bleys the Aubergine passed on Ethan the Pearl’s letter to Jacoba the Brown and she was very grateful for his effort in delivering it.The next day <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Brennis+the+Outrider" target="_blank">Brennis the Outrider</a> arrived on his warpony to take them eastward through what remained of the Border Shires and towards the main road north to Sluetelot. [sup]4[/sup]“Look!” Telémahkos uncovered the landshark head to gloat to the halfling guardian.“What a fearsome beast!’ Brennis declared. “You killed this?”“We did,” Timotheus answered stepping over, putting is fists to his hips.“Amazing…You must truly be fearless to have slain it,” Brennis said with a smile. [sup]5[/sup]Along the way he told them news of <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/House+Roose" target="_blank">House Roose</a> recruiting a band of halfling archers with the blessing of <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/House+Kilcullen" target="_blank">House Kilcullen</a>.  They would be joining the fight being taken to the hobgoblins gathering in <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/the+Schrabs" target="_blank">the Schrabs</a>.  Afterwards, Timotheus could not stop jabbering about how they should ride up there and join the fight themselves.Balem, the 12th of Ese - 566 H.E. (637 M.Y.)Four days later the young noble Signers of the Charter of Schiereiland arrived at <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/South+Wall" target="_blank">South Wall</a>, the great barricade that protected the <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Sluetelot+Canal" target="_blank">Sluetelot Canal</a> and the town beyond.  The days were overcast and the weather was growing cooler, as autumn was arriving.  They had ridden past <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Bog+End" target="_blank">Bog End</a> without stopping, and their travel up the <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Beach+Road" target="_blank">Beach Road</a> was without incident, causing them to jokingly doubt the rumors they had heard of the dangers common to it. [sup]6[/sup]As usual, they were allowed to ride past the line of farmers and tradesman waiting to cross Old Town Bridge.“Names? Business?” The guard at the bridge gate asked, barely paying attention because he noted their noble mean. “Call us ‘the Sons of Thricia’,” Telémahkos replied. “Signers of the Charter of Schiereiland, and defeaters of a monstrous landshark!” He whipped the blanket off the monster’s head with a dramatic flourish.“Wow!”  Others gathered to have a look and a murmur went through crowd and guards alike.As they rode over the metal bridge and down into Sluetelot they noticed something strange about the town.  There were three stylized pillars painted in a light blue color on various buildings and structures.  Some were tall and easily seen, such as those on the brick wall of the bridge support, and others were small and scrawled in various places.“Excuse me, sir…” Bleys stopped a farmer drawing an ox that they were drawing up with,  “I ain’t no knight,” the old man winked.“What are these pillars drawn throughout the town?”  the watch-mage asked ignoring or not noticing the man’s levity.“Well, young master… Ain’t ya heard? ‘The Day of the Pillars’ they’re calling it,” the old man said, his watery eyes growing wide. “Everyone woke up early last month and these things were all over town… On the harbor fortress, the bridges, the homes of nobles and from what I hear even some temples… And… If people are to be believed… This happened all over Thricia… At the same time on the same day… But ain’t no one’s been caught… No one knows what it means or who did it or why… At least no one is saying…”“No rumors? Stories?” Telémahkos asked.“Well, some folk thing it had something to do with the dockworker’s strike and the brawl that erupted soon after, but I don’t think so…” the man said.Bleys the Aubergine looked to Laarus of Ra gravely.  They made their way to Death & Taxes near the center of Old Town, and noticed more of the stylized pillars drawn here and there, some washed away, but leaving a faint ghost of an outline behind.Victoria, Timotheus and Tymon agreed to bring the horses out to the stables in New Sluetelot while the others carried the gear up to the suites.  Bleys noted a set of pillars painted on the side of Barakis’ house as they did this. [sup]7[/sup] Barton Digits greeted them effusively, and in no time he and Telémahkos were making arrangements for the landshark head to be mounted in the common room. It would be a gift to the inn if Barton agreed to put a plaque explaining their bravery below it.Exhausted, the young nobles collapsed in their beds to catch some rest, over dinner they would meet with <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Euleria+Finch" target="_blank">Euleria</a> to begin the process of liquidating their loot and determine their next course of action.End of Session #21 -------------------------------------------------------Notes:(1) The issue of a name for the group has been an on-going debate both in and out of game, and just before this session there had been a series of emails discussing the issue and later a thread on our messageboards that spilled back and forth between in and out of character reasoning.  While no one protested against the adoption of the name ‘the Sons of Thricia’ (not even Victoria), it was more because the topic had grown tiresome and most wanted to drop it, at least temporarily.  This would not be last time the issue arose.(2) Bleys the Aubergine offered to carry the letter in InterSession #18.1 and received it in Session #20.(3) Remember, Aquerra has a silver standard so twenty-five silver pieces is a significant amount.(4) Brennis the Outrider led the party through the Border Shires to meet Kermit back in Session #9.(5) During these naming discussions, it became common for ‘<a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/The+Fearless+Manticore+Killers" target="_blank">the Fearless Manticore Killers</a>’ to be brought up as an example of a name the players hated that they were stuck with for a time (those who read <a href="http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=76999" target="_blank">‘Out of the Frying Pan’ story hour</a> know the story behind the name and how the party later changed it to a name they came up with themselves, ‘<a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/The+Keepers+of+the+Gate" target="_blank">The Keepers of the Gate</a>’).  The table burst out laughing when I had Brennis say this, knowing however much of a Rat Bastard  DM™ I might be I would not saddle them with the name ‘the Fearless Landshark Slayers’.(6) The party heard of the dangers of the Beach Road back in Session #2.(7) Remember, Barakis the Brown’s house is right across the wide street from Death & Taxes.</blockquote>

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