Shattered Sea Chronicles, Book I: Festival of the Dead

[Blarkon Dragonslayer]

Most of the weapons and armor are of good, though not exceptional quality. The rest are mediocre, at best. The coins were minted anywhere from 300-350 years ago. Most are local, minted from silver mined at either Rivenshield Delve, or the lesser mines at Bright Rock.

Johanna and Broderick, watching the long hallway, see a shambling zombie lumber into view. It slowly makes it's way towards them, but they easily dispatch it before it does any harm. Over the next short while, two more zombies also return, and are similarly dispatched.

Eventually, the group makes it's way down the corridor, which goes east, then south, the southern leg several hundred feet long. Eventually it starts to go up, and ends in a stone barn, surrounded by trees. The smell here is awful, and they realize that where they are is in the midst of the tanneries and other tremendously odiferous businesses, that are kept outside the city to keep the smell down. There is a heavy wagon, and four stabled draft horses, as well as signs that three other horses were stabled here as well, until very recently.

 

[EvolutionKB]

Redbeard

The smell doesn't seem to bother Redbeard as they emerge from the passage beneath the barn. "There be nothin' 'ere, but we seems to 'ave found their hideout. I am not one for stealin' people's things, but we be havin lots o' loot back down there, and that wagon there just sittin' there be mighty convenient." Redbeard examines the place where the other wagon was located. He attempts to find out if the tracks can be followed. "If we be findin' the owners of this here barn, it may lead us to those priests that got away."

 

[pathfinderq1]

The smell doesn't seem to bother Redbeard as they emerge from the passage beneath the barn. "There be nothin' 'ere, but we seems to 'ave found their hideout. I am not one for stealin' people's things, but we be havin lots o' loot back down there, and that wagon there just sittin' there be mighty convenient." Redbeard examines the place where the other wagon was located. He attempts to find out if the tracks can be followed. "If we be findin' the owners of this here barn, it may lead us to those priests that got away."

"Indeed, finding who owns this place may be a valuable clue- though I think we've done our part in breaking the back of this particular cult. We ought to go back in and clear everything out." Johanna looked back down into the tunnel warily, as if she expected more zombies to appear there. "Then perhaps we can talk to the inspector and give our reports on what we have found so far. Mayhap he can find a wizard or one of the local clergy to examine or disable that unnatural flame we found- unless one of you learned folk feel up to the task. I won't feel we've finished until that is taken care of."

 

[EvolutionKB]

Redbeard

"Aye there be the matter of that flame down there. I think Johanna be right, we need to be goin back down there and be figurin' out if there be anything else alive down there. We can be bringin' our loot back up when we be finished. If we be finishin' in good time, I may be able to track this here missin' wagon." Redbeard picks his nose and wipes it on his leg, then fishes through his belt pouch for his bacon which he begins to snack on once again.

Track: Survival +9

 

[Blarkon Dragonslayer]

OOC: Haven't heard from Fenris or Tailspinner for a bit, anyone hear anything from them?

IC: Collecting up the gear and transporting it takes some time, and several trips down a very long corridor, though eventually the wagon is loaded up. Redbeard is able to track a wagon, as well as a single rider, southeast to the main south road. At that point, the individual tracks become buried in sheer volume of sign from the normal wagon and animal traffic on that road.

By the time all the loading is completed, it is full night, the stars are out, and the sounds of music and merriment can be heard clearly from the festival grounds, not all that far away. The group heads into town, the guards at the gate allowing them in, though a number of odd looks are given to the large iron brazier with leaping black flames coming from it.

The cavalcade makes it's way to the Badger, and soon enough the wagon and horses are in the stable, and the adventurers have a chance to clean up if they wish, and settle down for an ale. Olephas deals firmly with the black flame, when asked, muttering about "abominations to nature." The brazier itself, however, is inherently magical, strongly necromantic. Eventually it is learned that the brazier can cast Animate Dead once per day, upon a body or bodies placed atop it.

As the adventurers talk, a bard plays in the corner, one they haven't seen performing in the Badger before, though most of the patrons present seem familiar enough with him. His flute music is quite soothing, and the normally fairly raucous Badger is quiet.

Haversham arrives soon after, and listens with great care to what the group has to report. Finally he nods, and says, "You have done very well, beyond what I'd expected of you, to be honest. I believe your diverse mentors and supporters were correct, and you'll go far in this world. If you would, please stay for the rest of the Festival, enjoy yourselves, and I'll discuss these matters with the Thane, and his advisors." He pays over the 200 gp to each adventurer, and offers 3,000 gp for the brazier. "I suspect the followers of Iron Virtue might offer you a bit more, just for the honor of destroying the thing, though."

 

[Nathaniel Frost]

Noting the obviously weary and battered group, Nathaniel kicks up the tempo of his song, playing a simple variation of Virtue's Victory. As if Directed by his will, a chorus of deep male voices begins singing along, though the sound comes from nowhere in particular. At appropriate moments, the clash of sword on shield can be heard along with cheers of victory.

OOC: Perform +11 and cast Ghost sound to create the choir of four men and appropriate battle sounds.

 

[EvolutionKB]

Redbeard

Redbeard doesn't clean up, he just plops down next to Olephas, and orders a "bite" of food. When his food shows up, it seems like enough to feed a horse. Redbeard hungrily eats it up, while talking to Olephas. "Sorry about some of them be gettin' away master. Without their lil toy 'ere they won't be havin' such a simple time makin' thar carrion."

After hearing Haversham's offer about the brazier, Redbeard speaks, "That be a mighty fine price for that brazier. What would ye do with it? The foul thing would be best broken me thinks."

Once the bard begins playing his flute, Redbeard tries to whisper to Olephas, but draws glares from others around him, "Who be this one? 'is music be makin me relaxed. Wait no, that be the ale..." As the music goes on, Redbeard begins to daydream about the pup he wished to purchase in the morning, a slobbery large dog, that the merchant said was part wolf.

[sblock=ooc]Once the loot is cashed in I plan on buying a riding dog(war trained to trip if possible) as well as barding to fit it.[/sblock]

 

[pathfinderq1]

Johanna takes her time upstairs, trying to get cleaned up as best she can. In the end, though, she settles for washing away the bits of blood and undead chunks that had accumulated on her and changing into her spare set of clothes- while simple, they are at least clean. A real bath and the services of a laundry, civilized luxuries that they are, can wait until morning. Once finished, she makes her way back downstairs to rejoin her companions.

After hearing Haversham's offer about the brazier, Redbeard speaks, "That be a mighty fine price for that brazier. What would ye do with it? The foul thing would be best broken me thinks."

"I like the idea of at least seeing what the Iron Virtue would be willing to pay- but I truly care not, so long as that piece of dark magic is destroyed. It sounds as if we're here for the rest of the festival, so we've some time to decide." Her voice is calm now, rich and pleasant, and it is hard to reconcile her smooth tones and happy smile with the hard-bitten blood-drenched swordswoman she had been down in those tunnels.

Once the bard switches to more appropriate music, her mood seems to lift even more- while the song itself is not a Jotun tune, the mood and the sound are refreshingly familiar. It is almost like many a night she spent with her grandfather, or among her fellow warriors and sailors. Once that song is finished she steps over to the musician, lofting a gold coin in his direction. "Once you're done singing, perhaps you'd stop by our table. We've done work worthy of song today- maybe you can here our tale and compose a tune to spread our fame, and build your own reputation." After all, one of her most cherished ambitions was to have skalds sing of her deeds- what they had done today was but the beginning of a true warrior's saga, but it was a solid beginning, and they deserved some song for it.

OOC:[sblock] I'll mark off the bard's gold piece when I'm doing my level-crunching this weekend[/sblock]

 

[Imerak]

Larren raises a flagon, his third already, to the bard and his song. "Aye, a good tune! But over here is a true tale of heroism, if I do say so myself, in the flesh. Wouldn't that be a treat? To hear the epic tale of our battle against the vile undead, ten years down the road? Could you include my manly deeds and heroic acts? Oh, and the throngs of women gazing longingly at me? And perhaps exclude all my missed shots?" Larren laughs loud and long at his own jokes, rather clearly drunk. "Ah, but I jest. Still, I would like to be remembered as a hero to many. How's about this, then. A round for everyone!" Larren chuckles, but then blanches when he realizes that there are many more people in the bar than he had guessed.

 

[Nathaniel Frost]

Nathaniel accepts the gold piece graciously, tucking it away into a pouch. "I'd be happy to hear your tale, and take my share of that round!" He finishes up with a lively dwarven tune, making sure to collect all of the night's earnings before settling his hat back atop his head. "I saw Haversham speaking to you folks earlier. Must be quite a tale to spin, if folk of his ilk are taking notice! Do tell! And don't skimp on the details!"