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The Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh #137 Into the Mere of the Dead Men Part 2.
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<blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 8378569" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p style="text-align: center"><strong>Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Session #060a: Before the Murder.</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here).</strong></p><p><strong>Daktari (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 7</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>Inverna Nightbreeze (played by Goonalan) Female Wood Elf Fighter Lvl 7 (Sidekick)</strong></p><p><strong><s>Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 </s>RIP*</strong></p><p><s><strong>Tarbin Tul (played by goonalan) Male Human Bard</strong></s><strong> RETIRED</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 60a, and only a short one as real life was afoot, although there's two parts to the write up of this session.</p><p></p><p>Before, and after, the murder...</p><p></p><p>So, atm we're still just getting the between adventure stuff done, and... well, chatting about lots of things.</p><p></p><p>The date is first-day, 11th Mirtul, 1493 Year of the Purple Dragons</p><p>The time is 17:41 PM</p><p></p><p>The Dark Squad are in the frontier town of Burle, and after returning Granny's ex-prisoners to their loved-ones the adventurers decide to get a room, and food, and maybe do a little information gathering, just to check the lay of the land hereabouts.</p><p></p><p>Ram leads the way, initially to the Dead Goblin Tavern, but on brief investigation the place is a naughty word-hole, and the adventurers don't want that kind of thing right now.</p><p></p><p>Therefore, next up to the Red House Inn, which is much more upmarket- full of fat-ish business men and women, well-dressed all of them. The men (in the majority) mostly puffing on cigars. There are also games of chance aplenty here, and fine dining in the restaurant, and on enquiry the place even has a few empty rooms available for the night.</p><p></p><p>Ram, who is taking charge here- odd, I know, but Jim/Haggis (Vinnie & Daktari) & Bear (Newt) are both still hung-over from the festival they just got back from.</p><p></p><p>Bear attended the festival dressed as a Goblin.</p><p></p><p>Don't ask- the youth of today.</p><p></p><p>The festival was called... Bloodwitch, Bloodbath, Blood... fest?</p><p></p><p>I can't remember, but I digress.</p><p></p><p>Ram's in charge here, and he's paying- rooms for the night, food and a round of drinks- and there's only a few coppers change from ten gold pieces. But, this is a nice place, the fare is good and there's no trouble to be had in here, so well worth the money.</p><p></p><p>After the meal Vinnie leaves his colleagues for a while and heads out of town, into the woods and fields nearby. The druid is looking to top up on some essential herbs. However, in the early evening light Vinnie spots activity in the Dreadwood just a few miles away, he sends Owly to reconnoitre.</p><p></p><p>But whatever it was has gone- moved on, all that can be detected is the sound of hoofed quadrupeds (probably) half-a-dozen of them, or thereabouts- horses? Boars?</p><p></p><p>Who knows?</p><p></p><p>Vinnie finishes his herb-gathering and then heads back to town, Burle...</p><p></p><p>Back to the Red House Inn.</p><p></p><p>While the druid's gone Ram gambles a little- and makes a profit, but only just. He also asks around about any local 'issues'. His fellow card and dice players talk about raiding goblins, gangs of them either attacking farmsteads or else caravans on the roads. However, it's goblin season atm, so there's nothing out of the ordinary to report.</p><p></p><p>Newt in the meantime finds a friend, and with a little chatter- and patter, the tabaxi gets the low down from one of the working girls here- Marlene. But there's not much interesting to tell, in all truth the tabaxi is mostly looking to make a few purchases on the morrow, the warlock is looking for a very specific vendor.</p><p></p><p>Last thing for the night- when Vinnie gets back, and after another discussion it is decided to offer Inverna Nightbreeze (see interviews last session) a spot in the Dark Squad, a note is therefore sent to the Falcon's Nest to pop the question.</p><p></p><p>Then, an early night, keep in mind the adventurers have been pretty much at full speed for the last tenday or more.</p><p></p><p>[Chatter and that 250 XP]</p><p></p><p>And in the morning, at breakfast, the Dark Squad make their proper introductions to Inverna Nightbreeze, the elven warrior is welcomed to the Squad, and happy to serve.</p><p></p><p>Then... shopping.</p><p></p><p>Newt has discovered that Colliver's General Store has a back room filled with lots of fine wares, however reportedly a secret signal is needed to gain admittance to this special part of the store. As it turns out, after further discussion with Ram, the Squad have a way in- from what Newt has learned it seems that Colliver's is very probably a front for whatever passes as the Thieves' Guild in Burle (maybe).</p><p></p><p>And so a short while later and the Dark Squad are in the aforementioned special store, and doing deals with Old Man Colliver himself, Ram's Thieves Cant is the 'Open Sesame'. The adventurers spend a good chunk of their hard-earned money- Ram haggles his way into a Cloak of Elvenkind, while Vinnie manages to locate some Slippers of Spider Climbing, the rest is just a few potions here and there (all healing).</p><p></p><p>Note, the PCs don't have lots of magic items- a +1 weapon, something +1 of protection (some of them) and... a few other wondrous items and the rest consumables. So, I don't mind them purchasing a few things here and there.</p><p></p><p>Also, I like them spending their money.</p><p></p><p>Then a visit by Newt to Madame Parsley's shop, the small but well-stocked place contains all manner of arcane and/or mystical goods, 99% of it mundane- but all of it esoteric. The Warlock purchases some specialist ink (to scribe spells) but in the process is given a warning, or else a premonition, by the ancient elf (Madame Parsley)- “You will have cause to visit the Wild Woods!”</p><p></p><p>Newt makes a note of this- there's no other info available from Madame P, however the tabaxi will be back to see her again, particularly if as the ancient elf says- he has cause to visit the Wild Woods in the course of his adventures.</p><p></p><p>[Shopping and that 400 XP]</p><p></p><p>Then more shopping, however Ram and Vinnie become aware that they, the Dark Squad, are being followed- a pair of gnomes are shadowing the group, as they go about their lawful happy-consumer business. Eventually a plan is put together, the Dark Squad will continue on their rounds, while Ram will drop back and attempt to follow, and observe, the pair of gnomes tailing them.</p><p></p><p>Thus it comes to pass that Ram, after trailing the gnomes for a while, creeps up to surprise the pair, point of fact the rogue terrifies the gnomes- leaves both of them screaming (briefly).</p><p></p><p>As it turns out the gnomes are not hired assassins, or anything similar.</p><p></p><p>A little later the two parties have a chat, this in a wooded copse a mile or so outside of Burle- this is a top secret conversation, the gnomes- Cpl Fiddlesticks and Sgt Dibbledob of the Squabblepot Guard, insist. The two gnome guards are on special assignment, they have been sent to find...</p><p></p><p>Vinnie.</p><p></p><p>They have a letter for the druid, here it is-</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]142455[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Oh, that's nice- a letter from Arty.</strong></p><p></p><p>The text is as follows-</p><p></p><p><em>Vincenzo</em></p><p><em>Saltmarsh</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>I am writing to you in the hope that you can help me, you and your companions in the Dark Squad. I am in trouble my friend, I know that we have only recently met but I hope that I can call you friend, but I digress- I really am in trouble deep.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>I am at present awaiting trial in the gnome settlement of Squabblepot, the place that I have called home for the past five years.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>It is burrow law that every gnome in my position be allowed someone to defend them- I chose you.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Will you help me?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>I have no-one else.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Your friend,</em></p><p><em>Arty Swell. </em></p><p></p><p>Arty Swell, if you remember, is the gnome alchemist and potion/pox-cure seller from Farhill Mine. Vinnie has had many many chats with the gnome in the past, and also bought a lot of alchemical equipment from the fellow- the druid is keen to start making his own potions. He's even paid Arty a little money to teach him a few brewing techniques.</p><p></p><p>Arty is Vinnie's friend.</p><p></p><p>However, Sgt Dibbledob explains- Arty Swell has been accused of murder, he's in trouble deep.</p><p></p><p>Will Vinnie help Arty? Will he come to Squabblepot to investigate the situation? Will he speak for the gnome alchemist at his trial? Will he?</p><p></p><p>Of course he will, Vinnie is the good guy.</p><p></p><p>[Vinnie, and the Dark Squad, agree to try to save Arty Swell 250 XP]</p><p></p><p>The rest of this session is in the next bit.</p><p></p><p>The Dark Squad’s to-do list reads a little like this-</p><p></p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Save Arty Swell. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">To the Moon Pool.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Goblins in the Dreadwood.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Nightshade in the Dreadwood.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">To Blackedge, find the Goblin Stair.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Return to Fallowstone Holy for answers- the Witch’s Tor & the Pact of the Flame. <br /> </li> </ol><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: 8378569, member: 16069"] [CENTER][B]Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh[/B][/CENTER] [B]Session #060a: Before the Murder. Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here). Daktari (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 7 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 Inverna Nightbreeze (played by Goonalan) Female Wood Elf Fighter Lvl 7 (Sidekick) [S]Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 [/S]RIP*[/B] [S][B]Tarbin Tul (played by goonalan) Male Human Bard[/B][/S][B] RETIRED *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 60a, and only a short one as real life was afoot, although there's two parts to the write up of this session. Before, and after, the murder... So, atm we're still just getting the between adventure stuff done, and... well, chatting about lots of things. The date is first-day, 11th Mirtul, 1493 Year of the Purple Dragons The time is 17:41 PM The Dark Squad are in the frontier town of Burle, and after returning Granny's ex-prisoners to their loved-ones the adventurers decide to get a room, and food, and maybe do a little information gathering, just to check the lay of the land hereabouts. Ram leads the way, initially to the Dead Goblin Tavern, but on brief investigation the place is a naughty word-hole, and the adventurers don't want that kind of thing right now. Therefore, next up to the Red House Inn, which is much more upmarket- full of fat-ish business men and women, well-dressed all of them. The men (in the majority) mostly puffing on cigars. There are also games of chance aplenty here, and fine dining in the restaurant, and on enquiry the place even has a few empty rooms available for the night. Ram, who is taking charge here- odd, I know, but Jim/Haggis (Vinnie & Daktari) & Bear (Newt) are both still hung-over from the festival they just got back from. Bear attended the festival dressed as a Goblin. Don't ask- the youth of today. The festival was called... Bloodwitch, Bloodbath, Blood... fest? I can't remember, but I digress. Ram's in charge here, and he's paying- rooms for the night, food and a round of drinks- and there's only a few coppers change from ten gold pieces. But, this is a nice place, the fare is good and there's no trouble to be had in here, so well worth the money. After the meal Vinnie leaves his colleagues for a while and heads out of town, into the woods and fields nearby. The druid is looking to top up on some essential herbs. However, in the early evening light Vinnie spots activity in the Dreadwood just a few miles away, he sends Owly to reconnoitre. But whatever it was has gone- moved on, all that can be detected is the sound of hoofed quadrupeds (probably) half-a-dozen of them, or thereabouts- horses? Boars? Who knows? Vinnie finishes his herb-gathering and then heads back to town, Burle... Back to the Red House Inn. While the druid's gone Ram gambles a little- and makes a profit, but only just. He also asks around about any local 'issues'. His fellow card and dice players talk about raiding goblins, gangs of them either attacking farmsteads or else caravans on the roads. However, it's goblin season atm, so there's nothing out of the ordinary to report. Newt in the meantime finds a friend, and with a little chatter- and patter, the tabaxi gets the low down from one of the working girls here- Marlene. But there's not much interesting to tell, in all truth the tabaxi is mostly looking to make a few purchases on the morrow, the warlock is looking for a very specific vendor. Last thing for the night- when Vinnie gets back, and after another discussion it is decided to offer Inverna Nightbreeze (see interviews last session) a spot in the Dark Squad, a note is therefore sent to the Falcon's Nest to pop the question. Then, an early night, keep in mind the adventurers have been pretty much at full speed for the last tenday or more. [Chatter and that 250 XP] And in the morning, at breakfast, the Dark Squad make their proper introductions to Inverna Nightbreeze, the elven warrior is welcomed to the Squad, and happy to serve. Then... shopping. Newt has discovered that Colliver's General Store has a back room filled with lots of fine wares, however reportedly a secret signal is needed to gain admittance to this special part of the store. As it turns out, after further discussion with Ram, the Squad have a way in- from what Newt has learned it seems that Colliver's is very probably a front for whatever passes as the Thieves' Guild in Burle (maybe). And so a short while later and the Dark Squad are in the aforementioned special store, and doing deals with Old Man Colliver himself, Ram's Thieves Cant is the 'Open Sesame'. The adventurers spend a good chunk of their hard-earned money- Ram haggles his way into a Cloak of Elvenkind, while Vinnie manages to locate some Slippers of Spider Climbing, the rest is just a few potions here and there (all healing). Note, the PCs don't have lots of magic items- a +1 weapon, something +1 of protection (some of them) and... a few other wondrous items and the rest consumables. So, I don't mind them purchasing a few things here and there. Also, I like them spending their money. Then a visit by Newt to Madame Parsley's shop, the small but well-stocked place contains all manner of arcane and/or mystical goods, 99% of it mundane- but all of it esoteric. The Warlock purchases some specialist ink (to scribe spells) but in the process is given a warning, or else a premonition, by the ancient elf (Madame Parsley)- “You will have cause to visit the Wild Woods!” Newt makes a note of this- there's no other info available from Madame P, however the tabaxi will be back to see her again, particularly if as the ancient elf says- he has cause to visit the Wild Woods in the course of his adventures. [Shopping and that 400 XP] Then more shopping, however Ram and Vinnie become aware that they, the Dark Squad, are being followed- a pair of gnomes are shadowing the group, as they go about their lawful happy-consumer business. Eventually a plan is put together, the Dark Squad will continue on their rounds, while Ram will drop back and attempt to follow, and observe, the pair of gnomes tailing them. Thus it comes to pass that Ram, after trailing the gnomes for a while, creeps up to surprise the pair, point of fact the rogue terrifies the gnomes- leaves both of them screaming (briefly). As it turns out the gnomes are not hired assassins, or anything similar. A little later the two parties have a chat, this in a wooded copse a mile or so outside of Burle- this is a top secret conversation, the gnomes- Cpl Fiddlesticks and Sgt Dibbledob of the Squabblepot Guard, insist. The two gnome guards are on special assignment, they have been sent to find... Vinnie. They have a letter for the druid, here it is- [ATTACH type="full"]142455[/ATTACH] [B]Oh, that's nice- a letter from Arty.[/B] The text is as follows- [I]Vincenzo Saltmarsh I am writing to you in the hope that you can help me, you and your companions in the Dark Squad. I am in trouble my friend, I know that we have only recently met but I hope that I can call you friend, but I digress- I really am in trouble deep. I am at present awaiting trial in the gnome settlement of Squabblepot, the place that I have called home for the past five years. It is burrow law that every gnome in my position be allowed someone to defend them- I chose you. Will you help me? I have no-one else. Your friend, Arty Swell. [/I] Arty Swell, if you remember, is the gnome alchemist and potion/pox-cure seller from Farhill Mine. Vinnie has had many many chats with the gnome in the past, and also bought a lot of alchemical equipment from the fellow- the druid is keen to start making his own potions. He's even paid Arty a little money to teach him a few brewing techniques. Arty is Vinnie's friend. However, Sgt Dibbledob explains- Arty Swell has been accused of murder, he's in trouble deep. Will Vinnie help Arty? Will he come to Squabblepot to investigate the situation? Will he speak for the gnome alchemist at his trial? Will he? Of course he will, Vinnie is the good guy. [Vinnie, and the Dark Squad, agree to try to save Arty Swell 250 XP] The rest of this session is in the next bit. The Dark Squad’s to-do list reads a little like this- [LIST=1] [*]Save Arty Swell. [*]To the Moon Pool. [*]Goblins in the Dreadwood. [*]Nightshade in the Dreadwood. [*]To Blackedge, find the Goblin Stair. [*]Return to Fallowstone Holy for answers- the Witch’s Tor & the Pact of the Flame. [/LIST] Stay safe and well you lovely people. Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan. [/QUOTE]
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