Six From Gate Pass - Chapter 3: Shelter From The Storm

[Gregor]

Alric, you spend the rest of your day learning the following rumors and then communicate them to the party when you return to the Inn for the evening:

Some daredevil refugee, who goes by the name of Nathan Lowduke is currently looking for a buyer for a dragon egg he recently stole. Apparently the egg belonged to a grown female green dragon called Naizelasa, the Shrieking Delve. For several days now, the southern shore of the mire has echoed with the horrible shrieks of the mother dragon. One night she attacked a ship of refugees arriving from Sindaire, tore long gashes in the sails, and demanded they find her lost egg, or on her next outing she would begin destroying ships.

There have been many reports of people – mostly young women – vanishing from the muddy, rat-infested streets near the south harbor, and with no formal law enforcement there seems little chance the mystery will be solved any time soon.

A retired commander in the Dassen military, a dwarf named Xavious Foebane has gotten the attention of Seaquen by scouting through the refugee camps in search of able-bodied and experienced warriors who could make up a military defense for the town. The grey-bearded dwarf resides in a small stone fort atop a clear-cut hill where the Dasseni refugees have established their camp.

 

[funkmamagoat]

Kirio shares his wine with Alric and listens intently as he relays what he has learned "A Dragon's egg!?! Truly... amazing. Well done Alric, surely some of this information will be of use."

Kirio finishes his glass and eats a small meat pie, then prepares for his evening performance "What shall I play tonight then..."

Kirio finishes his last piece, a calm and satisfied smile on his face. "A chorus position indeed... Ha!"

He walks over to the bar, collects his earnings and some more wine, eager to hear what his companions have been up to.

 

[Gregor]

Day 3 in Seaquen

Eventually the whole party returns to the Inn to have a meal, some drinks and take in the rest of Kirio's performance. The Inn is swollen with patrons, sitting stone silent as the elven bard plays a suite of songs on his flute. Pretty young maids weep or stare at him starry-eyed, others find themselves lost in the music and some sit with their jaws hanging open. At the end of the show, the Inn erupts in applause and Kirio is not want for drinks for the remainder of the evening. People file out towards the end of the night still speaking about the elven performer.

The next morning Torrent wakes everyone up early and you all gather to break your fast in the Inn's dining room. After your meal, you follow her out into the town. The drizzle still falls and a damp wind blows through the streets. Townsfolk are setting up market stalls and wagons move up and down through the cobbled streets as the city comes to life. You follow Torrent across the north harbour and then follow a smaller road that begins to lead along the rocky coastline. After 10 or 15 minutes of walking you come to a long wooden boardwalk that strikes out into the grey green waters of the ocean. It leads about 100 feet out to a small dome-shaped stone island. You walk out along the salt stained planks, gusts of sea winds whipping your cloaks and blowing both spray and drizzle into your face.

When you arrive at the island, you see that more wooden stairs lead down to the water level where a small soggy dock sits. There are also a set of slick stone steps carved into the side of the island that lead up to the top. You follow Torrent up those steps and find yourself stepping into a carved out cave. One thick wooden door indicates your next destination - deeper into the stone island. Torrent knocks and calls out: "Lee! Its Torrent!", trying to raise her voice above the crashing of the waves outside. After a moment or two, you hear a muffled voice from inside tell her to come in.

Stepping inside you find yourself in a foyer carved out from the innards of the island. It is well appointed and well-furnished with plush carpets and wooden furniture. With a huge smile, a bald, tanned, muscular man who wears the clothes of a fisherman steps into the foyer and grasps Torrent in a hug. He ushers you all into a more comfortable sitting room where he offers you drinks and then heads into his kitchen. As you sit down, you can see that on one side of the room there sits a small set of stairs carved out of a natural tube that leads down to an underground pool at the level of the ocean.

Lee returns with clay mugs and a few jugs of water, ale and wine. He then begs your pardon for a few more moments and leaves the room again. As you help yourself to drinks you hear him speaking with a few other people who then cross by the sitting room and head into the foyer. There are three guests: two male half-orcs dressed in common clothing and a third, a tall strange looking human in robes. His flesh is adorned with unnatural protrusions and alterations, ranging from teeth on his cheeks and tentacles on his arms to what appears to be a half-formed eye on the back of his hand. He is quickly ushered out and then Lee returns to speak with you.

"My apologies once again Torrent. With this war a brewing Seaquen is a hub of activity. I have meetings with everyone and anyone these days!" He sits down and pours a mug of wine. "It has been so long since I've seen you, tell me all about your trip and who these valiant looking adventurers are who accompany you."

Torrent introduces you to Lee and explains the highs and lows of your escape from Gate Pass, your journey through Innenotdar and the sojourn across Dassen and the swamps. At the end of her story she turns to face the party and says: "Everyone, this is Lee Sidoneth. He was my mentor while I attended the Lyceum. He will be able to get us an appointment with he headmasters."

 

[funkmamagoat]

Kirio nods to Lee "A pleasure to meet you sir. You should know that Torrent has proven and exceptional companion, and her dedication to her cause is unwavering. I knew her mother and know that she would have been proud." Kirio pauses, frowns as if weighing something back and forth internally, then shrugs and smiles at Lee "forgive my forthrightness, but I would ask a favor of you. I was once a member of the wayfairer's guild and know that Guildmistress Sheena Larkins is currently taking residence in the Lyceum, acting as an advisor to the council. Do you think it would be possible to secure an audience with her as well, either on my own, or as part of the meeting with the headmasters?"

 

[Gregor]

"There is nothing to forgive, Kirio was it?" Lee says as he reclines in his chair, "I am happy to grant you an audience at the academy but you may need to inquire about a meeting with the Guildmistress once you have been admitted. Truth be told I do not know her very well. The audience I have granted Torrent and you all is with Headmaster Simeon Gohanach, a diviner of some renown. He chairs the council that leads the Lyceum and by extension, Seaquen and the resistance forming around it."

 

[funkmamagoat]

"That is an honest and fair response, thank you."

 

[fromage67]

Lars says, "Pleased to meet you. So, has the time of the appointment been decided?"

 

[Gregor]

"Indeed, Simeon is assembling a War Council early on the morrow to discuss how best to address the Ragesian aggression being felt across the continent. Their tendrils have expanded far beyond your home town of Gate Pass and ambassadors from each major nation, as well as prominent refugees, will be at the meeting. Apparently an envoy from Shahalesti is en route as well, but its unclear as to when they will arrive and what their intentions are." Lee pulls a sealed envelope from his pocket and hands it to Torrent. "This is your invitation to the council. Given the ... information you are here to present, I am sure that the council will appreciate your input and advice. I will also be present at the council as I am in charge of the security for Seaquen's harbours."

Lee stands up and takes a drink and then begins to pace around the room. "I mentioned that the war is growing. While it seemed to first be focused on your home city, Leska has begun to branch out in different directions. Acquiring detailed on information on what has transpired since you escaped has been difficult, what with teleportation magic being rendered useless unless one has an immunity to fire. I can fill you in on recent developments if you are interested."

 

[funkmamagoat]

Kirio's eyebrows raise at the mention of fire and teleportation and a cold sweat seems to run up his spine... "I know something of teleportation magic as you might well imagine... what you say is extremely disturbing. I do not pretend to speak for the others, but I for one am most certainly interested, please continue"

 

[Gregor]

"I will indulge you on both fronts: the teleportation issue and what we have learned regarding the war thus far." Lee takes a drink and then begins. "As you may know, most governments on this continent make frequent use of couriers to dispatch messages or make deliveries via teleportation magic. The Wayfarers have an almost exclusive monopoly on this service in addition to being actors and performers. Since the dissapearance of Emperor Coaltongue and the beginning of war, teleportation magic has become extremely hazardous. In short, he or she who teleports long distances is somehow burned in extreme flames. Users of such magic were found burned to a crisp or emerged as piles of cinders in the first days before anyone knew there was a problem." He takes a break to take another sip. "As you may also know, the late Emperor Coaltongue was renowned for his possession of an artifact known as the Torch of the Burning Sky, an item of great power that allowed him to move his large armies magically. Armies materializing on a battlefield generally did so in a wash of flames, though the travelers were unharmed. On the day Coaltongue went missing, so too did his artifact. Ever since, teleportation magic has been dangerous. When you speak with the representative of the Wayfarers, they may know more. While I am sure they enjoy visiting Seaquen, it is likely the fact that their majestic teleporting galleon cannot make use of its powers."

Lee sits back down and refills his cup. Takes another long swig and then explains to you the recent developments in the war since your departure from Gate Pass which Seaquen has learned through more traditional means:

In Gate Pass, the war wizard Gabal, believed to have gone into hiding, merged once the city council let the Ragesian inquisitors inside the walls. While Gate Pass soldiers kept the inquisitors busy, Gabal and his students assaulted the Ragesian camps outside the gates. Reported losses for the Ragesians were nearly two thousand in one day.

During the battle, one of the inquisitors managed to locate Gabal and dispel his fire protection, and a mighty fire-breathing dragon incinerated the mage.

In the aftermath, Ragesia’s second army, under command of General Danava and aided by a branch of the third army, breached through the first district gate of Gate Pass. The Shahalesti are believed to be providing supplies to Gate Pass, forcing Ragesia to turn from siege to repeated assaults.

The first Ragesian army, led by General Magdus after Coaltongue’s death, has halted hostilities because of bad weather, and it now roams the eastern plains of Sindaire, pillaging towns to feed its troops. A fleet from Ragesia is sailing for the capital of Sindaire, and the leaders of Seaquen suspect Magdus’ forces will link up with the fleet in the coming weeks.

The third Ragesian army, led by General Revulus, is preparing to march south to Dassen, though bad weather has halted it for now.

Meanwhile, the fourth Ragesian army attacks Shahalesti around the northern edge of the Otdar mountains.

Leska seems to be foolishly splitting her forces, and though Ragesia’s armies are winning all of their battles they cannot hope to occupy any territory. They seem simply to be cutting swaths through different lands.

Shahalesti has sent out diplomatic envoys to each country in the region, looking for help against what will eventually become a twofront war when Gate Pass falls. They were rebuffed by King Steppengard of Dassen, who seems to think Ragesia is not an enemy.

Ragesian garrisons in Sindaire have begun fighting with locals after attempting to round up mages per Leska’s orders.

Ostalin is relatively unaffected by war so far.

There is no word of what has happened to the hundreds of mages captured by the Scourge.

GM: This may help in terms of geographic context