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The Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh #135 Sorry For The (Attempted) Genocide.
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<blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 8299536" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p style="text-align: center"><strong>Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Session #050a The Falcon’s Quest.</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here).</strong></p><p><strong>New Tricks (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 7</strong></p><p><strong>Ramshambo (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue Lvl 7</strong></p><p><strong>Vincenzo (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 7</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>NPCs</strong></p><p><strong>Daktari (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 7</strong></p><p><strong><s>Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 </s>RIP*</strong></p><p><strong>*Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors.</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Servants/Familiars</strong></p><p><strong>Gerald (Bat/Giant Bat) servant/mount of New Tricks</strong></p><p><strong>Owly (Owl) Vinnie’s familiar</strong></p><p></p><p>This is session 50a, and this is the first bit of this bit (sheesh, another two-parter)- the Dark Squad are at the Wayside Inn, an hour shy of the town of Burle- they’re heading that way in the morning. However the PCs, as usual, have already made a big impression on the inhabitants of this place. The inn was being attacked by a clutch of zombies when they first arrived, and then a wraith turned up- the adventurers however soon put paid to the pesky undead. But that wasn’t the highlight of their stay at the Wayside Inn- somehow, see last session, Vinnie and/or Newt set fire to the place, but that moment has passed.</p><p></p><p>After Newt’s mega-lie.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]138068[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The Dark Squad at the Wayside Inn.</strong></p><p></p><p>So, it’s late night drinks and chatter, and invited along to the meeting is Tarbin Tul, or as he is now known to the players- Tarbin O’Tool. Tarbin is a bard (and Lawful Good with it), and he wants a story to tell, or else a song to sing. He also wants to find out about a terrible hag that haunts the Dreadwood called Nightshade.</p><p></p><p>The Dark Squad are also out to find Nightshade, they need to drag her back to the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors, and get their Garumn back.</p><p></p><p>So, the adventurers tell their story to Tarbin- or at least a censored version of it, and then chat through lots more of what (they think/hope) comes next- their plans for the future. The last action of the meeting is to welcome Tarbin aboard, he will be adventuring with the Squad- at least for a short while (maybe).</p><p></p><p>[A chat with Tarbin O’Tool 200 XP]</p><p></p><p>Then we’re off again, or at least the next day we are- an hour or so down the road and the Dark Squad arrive at the Falcon’s Nest. Note the Falcon’s Nest (home of the Falcon) lies just outside the town of Burle. It is also a well-made, and equally well-equipped fortified manor with a palisade wall and further defences.</p><p></p><p>The place is also well guarded, and at present also home to a dozen or more locals being trained for the militia. There are other folk here- wanderers, woodsmen, rangers and also a few sellswords. Most of them looking to take advantage of the bounties offered by the Falcon for keeping the region clear of evil humanoids.</p><p></p><p>Note, number one on the list of local vermin that need exterminating are the goblins of the Dreadwood, they are a perennial problem, or so it seems.</p><p></p><p>Anyway, after a very brief chat with the Falcon- she’s busy training the militia new recruits atm, the Dark Squad do enough to impress and earn a sit down meeting with her later, although Newt is suitably weird some more, of course.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]138069[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The Falcon and her Nest.</strong></p><p></p><p>At the meeting, which goes on for a good while- the PCs it seems have much to discuss- not least what they have been seeing and experiencing during their time in the Saltmarsh region so far. News that Big Al Kalhoon’s fortress/farm has been overrun by gnolls is most disturbing.</p><p></p><p>Initially the Falcon questions the Dark Squad to ascertain their abilities- and then points them towards the variety of bounties that are available for those that wish to fight the local humanoid tribes that (mostly) sally forth from the Dreadwood. Then however the Dark Squad tell the Falcon about their encounter with an adherent of Talos, a half-orc that could change into a boar. It seems packs of wild boars are running riot in the outer reaches of the Dreadwood hereby- the Falcon is concerned. The boar, in season- or to protect their young, can sometimes charge- but the rules of engagement of late have gone out of the window. Packs of boars have been sighted charging through the Dreadwood- and attacking on sight any woodsmen (or similar) that get in their way. Most un-boar-like activity.</p><p></p><p>The Falcon continues to ponder and question the Dark Squad about their encounter with the shape-changing half-orc adherent of Talos. The Dark Squad are certain that this fellow was somehow controlling the pack of boars that ambushed them, this all the way back in the Witch Wood.</p><p></p><p>[Chat with the Falcon 250 XP]</p><p></p><p>So, the talk goes on for a good while longer- and even ranges as far as the proclivities of Nightshade, the hag- and missing Bad Dead Ancestor. The Falcon informs the Dark Squad- Nightshade is purported to lair in a place known as the Deeps, or the Deep Dark. The Deeps/Deep Dark being the blackest, nastiest and most hard to get to rotten heart of the Dreadwood- where undead and worse roam freely.</p><p></p><p>That’s not good.</p><p></p><p>Note the location of Nightshade’s lair, beyond the info above, is also unknown.</p><p></p><p>And yet more chatter follows as the PCs decide to question the Falcon further, she seems to be very knowledgeable about the region, and remember the PCs are looking for a place called the Witch’s Tor, and someone called Wild Root, and anything anyone can tell them about the Pact of the Flame, oh and any info about the location of the Goblin Stair (they know that it is near Blackedge). Well, they’d be very grateful…</p><p></p><p>Over the course of the next twenty or so minutes the Dark Squad, and the Falcon, cut a deal. Here’s the gist of it.</p><p></p><p>The Dark Squad will head to Westor’s Logging Camp in the outer reaches of the Dreadwood, establish themselves there and use the place as a base of operations. They should then find/bump into one of the wandering packs of boars and somehow follow the porcine tyrants to wherever the beasts are going to. Or are laired, or… well, discover whatever it is that they’re doing. The suspicion is, after the Dark Squad’s earlier revelation, that the boar are being controlled by the half-orc worshippers of Talos (the Storm Lord). Or some version of this- but, what for? And where’s their base of operations?</p><p></p><p>Note, the above deal is also good for gnolls, who- like the boars, it seems have also been on the rampage in the region.</p><p></p><p>So, in summary, boars or gnolls- follow them and find out what’s going on, who’s in charge, and… if possible, put an end to this enemy.</p><p></p><p>Then report back to the Falcon and tell their tale.</p><p></p><p>For which the Dark Squad will receive the following, as negotiated, in payment- any bounties that they earn (and can prove), a small stipend to pay for the PCs time and resources, and… answers to their questions.</p><p></p><p>So, it goes a little like this.</p><p></p><p>The PCs want to know about the Witch’s Tor- what it is, and it’s location? Well, as it happens, the Falcon knows someone who, she is certain, will know where this place is- providing it is in the Saltmarsh region, and even if it is in the Mere of the Dead Men.</p><p></p><p>Note the Dark Squad have already paid the priests at the Fallowstone Holy to find this information but… a back up plan would be good, they figure you can never have too much info.</p><p></p><p>However…</p><p></p><p>“But yew will not tell uz oo zis person iz until we ‘av solved ze boar or ze gnoll problem, n’est pas?” Vinnie understands how this deal works.</p><p></p><p>But he’s wrong- the Falcon is more than happy to tell Vinnie the name of the person that can help them find the Witch’s Tor.</p><p></p><p>His name is Wild Root.</p><p></p><p>There were groans around the VTT at this point- the fools thought they were going to get a straight answer.</p><p></p><p>Note, as it also happens, Wild Root- the Falcon is further convinced, may also know something about the Pact of the Flame.</p><p></p><p>So, two birds- one stone.</p><p></p><p>Which leads us, of course, to the Dark Squad’s next request/question- who or what is Wild Root, and can we meet him?</p><p></p><p>The Falcon’s answer- Wild Root is a very experienced woodsman, and of course she’d be happy to direct the Dark Squad to his location, just as soon as the boar and/or gnoll problem has been taken care of.</p><p></p><p>“Zee, I told yew it iz ow zis works!” Vinnie chides.</p><p></p><p>Lastly, the Dark Squad want to know where the Goblin’s Stair is, they know it’s near Blackedge, and once again the Falcon states, with a smile, she knows the only person alive (most likely) who can guide the adventurers to the front door of the Goblin’s Stair.</p><p></p><p>Note the PCs have been working on the presumption that the Goblin’s Stair is a goblin lair- the Falcon confirms this, and also attempts to dissuade the adventurers from venturing to this place.</p><p></p><p>“It is just full of terrible goblins- why would you even want to go there? Are you mad?”</p><p></p><p>Furthermore, she believes the Goblin Stair is home to a/the goblin King- a tyrant known as Garblegut, and his lair- Garblegut’s Palace.</p><p></p><p>The Falcon’s source of information regarding all of this and more… well, he was a prisoner of Garblegut for perhaps a year, and she’d be happy to pass on this fellow’s name and present location, but first…</p><p></p><p>The boar/gnoll problem needs to be taken care of.</p><p></p><p>So, the Falcon has all the answers- or at least she’s the next step on the road…</p><p></p><p>Note, the Goblin’s Stair was another quest/prophecy directed at Buggles (remember him) back in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors, but we’re keen to get to the end of this strand of the plot too.</p><p></p><p>So, basically- go to Dreadwood, find boars & gnolls- fix the problem!</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]138070[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>I had to send bits of the big map via Discord in the end, it just wouldn't work on Fantasy Grounds, this is pretty much everything the PCs can normally see. Next up to Westor's Logging.</strong></p><p></p><p>[Doing a deal with the Falcon 500 XP]</p><p></p><p>Easy.</p><p></p><p>That was a short one, although there’s more to follow, but keep in mind we lost a good forty-five minutes play this evening due to Fantasy Grounds, it was playing up- just little daft things not seeming to work right, off and on for most of the evening.</p><p></p><p>But that’s all for now, and the adventurers are really going places now, and there’s no time like the present, onwards- Dreadwood!</p><p></p><p>The Dark Squad’s to-do list reads a little like this-</p><p></p><p>1) Westor’s Logging Camp- dump the horses.</p><p></p><p>2) Find Boars (Half-Orc Talos worshippers) &/or Gnolls.</p><p></p><p>3) Follow them to their lair?</p><p></p><p>4) DESTROY!</p><p></p><p>5) Back to the Falcon?</p><p></p><p>6) Goblins in the Dreadwood.</p><p></p><p>7) Nightshade in the Dreadwood.</p><p></p><p>8) To Blackedge, find the Goblin Stair</p><p></p><p>9) Return to Fallowstone Holy for answers- the Witch’s Tor & the Pact of the Flame.</p><p></p><p>Stay safe and well you lovely people.</p><p></p><p>Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Goonalan, post: 8299536, member: 16069"] [CENTER][B]Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh[/B][/CENTER] [B]Session #050a The Falcon’s Quest. Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here). New Tricks (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 7 Ramshambo (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue Lvl 7 Vincenzo (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 7 NPCs Daktari (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 7 [S]Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 [/S]RIP* *Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors. Servants/Familiars Gerald (Bat/Giant Bat) servant/mount of New Tricks Owly (Owl) Vinnie’s familiar[/B] This is session 50a, and this is the first bit of this bit (sheesh, another two-parter)- the Dark Squad are at the Wayside Inn, an hour shy of the town of Burle- they’re heading that way in the morning. However the PCs, as usual, have already made a big impression on the inhabitants of this place. The inn was being attacked by a clutch of zombies when they first arrived, and then a wraith turned up- the adventurers however soon put paid to the pesky undead. But that wasn’t the highlight of their stay at the Wayside Inn- somehow, see last session, Vinnie and/or Newt set fire to the place, but that moment has passed. After Newt’s mega-lie. [ATTACH type="full" alt="5001.jpg"]138068[/ATTACH] [B]The Dark Squad at the Wayside Inn.[/B] So, it’s late night drinks and chatter, and invited along to the meeting is Tarbin Tul, or as he is now known to the players- Tarbin O’Tool. Tarbin is a bard (and Lawful Good with it), and he wants a story to tell, or else a song to sing. He also wants to find out about a terrible hag that haunts the Dreadwood called Nightshade. The Dark Squad are also out to find Nightshade, they need to drag her back to the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors, and get their Garumn back. So, the adventurers tell their story to Tarbin- or at least a censored version of it, and then chat through lots more of what (they think/hope) comes next- their plans for the future. The last action of the meeting is to welcome Tarbin aboard, he will be adventuring with the Squad- at least for a short while (maybe). [A chat with Tarbin O’Tool 200 XP] Then we’re off again, or at least the next day we are- an hour or so down the road and the Dark Squad arrive at the Falcon’s Nest. Note the Falcon’s Nest (home of the Falcon) lies just outside the town of Burle. It is also a well-made, and equally well-equipped fortified manor with a palisade wall and further defences. The place is also well guarded, and at present also home to a dozen or more locals being trained for the militia. There are other folk here- wanderers, woodsmen, rangers and also a few sellswords. Most of them looking to take advantage of the bounties offered by the Falcon for keeping the region clear of evil humanoids. Note, number one on the list of local vermin that need exterminating are the goblins of the Dreadwood, they are a perennial problem, or so it seems. Anyway, after a very brief chat with the Falcon- she’s busy training the militia new recruits atm, the Dark Squad do enough to impress and earn a sit down meeting with her later, although Newt is suitably weird some more, of course. [ATTACH type="full" alt="5002.jpg"]138069[/ATTACH] [B]The Falcon and her Nest.[/B] At the meeting, which goes on for a good while- the PCs it seems have much to discuss- not least what they have been seeing and experiencing during their time in the Saltmarsh region so far. News that Big Al Kalhoon’s fortress/farm has been overrun by gnolls is most disturbing. Initially the Falcon questions the Dark Squad to ascertain their abilities- and then points them towards the variety of bounties that are available for those that wish to fight the local humanoid tribes that (mostly) sally forth from the Dreadwood. Then however the Dark Squad tell the Falcon about their encounter with an adherent of Talos, a half-orc that could change into a boar. It seems packs of wild boars are running riot in the outer reaches of the Dreadwood hereby- the Falcon is concerned. The boar, in season- or to protect their young, can sometimes charge- but the rules of engagement of late have gone out of the window. Packs of boars have been sighted charging through the Dreadwood- and attacking on sight any woodsmen (or similar) that get in their way. Most un-boar-like activity. The Falcon continues to ponder and question the Dark Squad about their encounter with the shape-changing half-orc adherent of Talos. The Dark Squad are certain that this fellow was somehow controlling the pack of boars that ambushed them, this all the way back in the Witch Wood. [Chat with the Falcon 250 XP] So, the talk goes on for a good while longer- and even ranges as far as the proclivities of Nightshade, the hag- and missing Bad Dead Ancestor. The Falcon informs the Dark Squad- Nightshade is purported to lair in a place known as the Deeps, or the Deep Dark. The Deeps/Deep Dark being the blackest, nastiest and most hard to get to rotten heart of the Dreadwood- where undead and worse roam freely. That’s not good. Note the location of Nightshade’s lair, beyond the info above, is also unknown. And yet more chatter follows as the PCs decide to question the Falcon further, she seems to be very knowledgeable about the region, and remember the PCs are looking for a place called the Witch’s Tor, and someone called Wild Root, and anything anyone can tell them about the Pact of the Flame, oh and any info about the location of the Goblin Stair (they know that it is near Blackedge). Well, they’d be very grateful… Over the course of the next twenty or so minutes the Dark Squad, and the Falcon, cut a deal. Here’s the gist of it. The Dark Squad will head to Westor’s Logging Camp in the outer reaches of the Dreadwood, establish themselves there and use the place as a base of operations. They should then find/bump into one of the wandering packs of boars and somehow follow the porcine tyrants to wherever the beasts are going to. Or are laired, or… well, discover whatever it is that they’re doing. The suspicion is, after the Dark Squad’s earlier revelation, that the boar are being controlled by the half-orc worshippers of Talos (the Storm Lord). Or some version of this- but, what for? And where’s their base of operations? Note, the above deal is also good for gnolls, who- like the boars, it seems have also been on the rampage in the region. So, in summary, boars or gnolls- follow them and find out what’s going on, who’s in charge, and… if possible, put an end to this enemy. Then report back to the Falcon and tell their tale. For which the Dark Squad will receive the following, as negotiated, in payment- any bounties that they earn (and can prove), a small stipend to pay for the PCs time and resources, and… answers to their questions. So, it goes a little like this. The PCs want to know about the Witch’s Tor- what it is, and it’s location? Well, as it happens, the Falcon knows someone who, she is certain, will know where this place is- providing it is in the Saltmarsh region, and even if it is in the Mere of the Dead Men. Note the Dark Squad have already paid the priests at the Fallowstone Holy to find this information but… a back up plan would be good, they figure you can never have too much info. However… “But yew will not tell uz oo zis person iz until we ‘av solved ze boar or ze gnoll problem, n’est pas?” Vinnie understands how this deal works. But he’s wrong- the Falcon is more than happy to tell Vinnie the name of the person that can help them find the Witch’s Tor. His name is Wild Root. There were groans around the VTT at this point- the fools thought they were going to get a straight answer. Note, as it also happens, Wild Root- the Falcon is further convinced, may also know something about the Pact of the Flame. So, two birds- one stone. Which leads us, of course, to the Dark Squad’s next request/question- who or what is Wild Root, and can we meet him? The Falcon’s answer- Wild Root is a very experienced woodsman, and of course she’d be happy to direct the Dark Squad to his location, just as soon as the boar and/or gnoll problem has been taken care of. “Zee, I told yew it iz ow zis works!” Vinnie chides. Lastly, the Dark Squad want to know where the Goblin’s Stair is, they know it’s near Blackedge, and once again the Falcon states, with a smile, she knows the only person alive (most likely) who can guide the adventurers to the front door of the Goblin’s Stair. Note the PCs have been working on the presumption that the Goblin’s Stair is a goblin lair- the Falcon confirms this, and also attempts to dissuade the adventurers from venturing to this place. “It is just full of terrible goblins- why would you even want to go there? Are you mad?” Furthermore, she believes the Goblin Stair is home to a/the goblin King- a tyrant known as Garblegut, and his lair- Garblegut’s Palace. The Falcon’s source of information regarding all of this and more… well, he was a prisoner of Garblegut for perhaps a year, and she’d be happy to pass on this fellow’s name and present location, but first… The boar/gnoll problem needs to be taken care of. So, the Falcon has all the answers- or at least she’s the next step on the road… Note, the Goblin’s Stair was another quest/prophecy directed at Buggles (remember him) back in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors, but we’re keen to get to the end of this strand of the plot too. So, basically- go to Dreadwood, find boars & gnolls- fix the problem! [ATTACH type="full" alt="5003.jpg"]138070[/ATTACH] [B]I had to send bits of the big map via Discord in the end, it just wouldn't work on Fantasy Grounds, this is pretty much everything the PCs can normally see. Next up to Westor's Logging.[/B] [Doing a deal with the Falcon 500 XP] Easy. That was a short one, although there’s more to follow, but keep in mind we lost a good forty-five minutes play this evening due to Fantasy Grounds, it was playing up- just little daft things not seeming to work right, off and on for most of the evening. But that’s all for now, and the adventurers are really going places now, and there’s no time like the present, onwards- Dreadwood! The Dark Squad’s to-do list reads a little like this- 1) Westor’s Logging Camp- dump the horses. 2) Find Boars (Half-Orc Talos worshippers) &/or Gnolls. 3) Follow them to their lair? 4) DESTROY! 5) Back to the Falcon? 6) Goblins in the Dreadwood. 7) Nightshade in the Dreadwood. 8) To Blackedge, find the Goblin Stair 9) Return to Fallowstone Holy for answers- the Witch’s Tor & the Pact of the Flame. Stay safe and well you lovely people. Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan. [/QUOTE]
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The Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh #135 Sorry For The (Attempted) Genocide.
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