Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 8065597" data-attributes="member: 16069">Dark Squad in the Forge of FurySession #012b Bad to the Gnome.Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here).Buggles (played by Stu) Male Wood Elf Fighter Lvl 1/Rogue Lvl 2New Tricks (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 3Ramshambo (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue Lvl 3Vincenzo (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 3NPCsGarumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 3This is session 12b, and the start of the next adventure proper, although- it starts in Neverwinter. One cold day, just as the PCs are wrapping up their 100 days of downtime activities Gundren Rockseeker comes calling, he has news- odd news.So, Gundren has been doing a little research of his own regarding Durgeddin the Black (no new info) but the dwarven merchant has been making enquiries, and so he was surprised to hear that another Durgeddin the Black blade was up for sale. The odd thing being of course that no-one has particularly seen a Durgeddin blade for the best part of two centuries, then Shatterspike gets given to Garumn, and now… well, another.However the party who wish to sell the second blade are rather less than reputable, therefore Gundren would like the Dark Squad to accompany him to the meeting he has arranged to view the weapon. The disreputable organisation turn out to be the Shoreman, and in particular a local boss of the thieves' guild called ‘Big Al’.Although only Ram knows this, he has friends in the organisation (see Downtime above)- remember.‘Big Al’ is a very large slice of half-orc with a halfling jester to amuse him, this after the PCs- mostly lead by Ram, go through a variety of security checks to get to the showdown.Note, as suspected by every reader following this- ‘Big Al’, of course, turns out to be the halfling in the motley, although this revelation only comes to pass when… well, it turns out the Durgeddin the Black weapon Big Al is selling is a hand axe- it’s signed, and of great quality (but not magical) and obvious to the well informed PCs- made by someone else. Garumn (he’s a smith, remember) is certain, as are all of the other adventurers that have been involved in the Durgeddin research.So, the Dark Squad let Big Al know- this is a fake, of some sort- high quality, but not the real deal.‘Big Al’ has been conned, they suspect- who could have done such a dastardly thing?At which point the furious halfling in the jester's motley reveals himself to be "Big Al" and negotiations take a turn for the worse.As it turns out- Erky Timbers, the gnome priest of Tymora sold the axe to ‘Big Al’ in good faith- although later the halfling crime boss admits he only paid 250gp for the weapon. Note, he was trying to sell it Gundren for 3,000gp.The conversation circles a while, eventually ‘Big Al’ tasks Ram to pay a visit on Erky and to get his money back, and also to make his mark on the lying gnome priest. He actually asks Ram to bring him back an "ear, or a hand- you choose”, some constant reminder to Erky of his treachery.More chatter follows, this away from the Shoremen’s clubhouse, the PCs like Erky- he used all of his healing spells repeatedly on them back in the Sunless Citadel, and he was very nice besides. Several members of the Dark Squad therefore impress upon Ram that the rogue will have to go through them if he wants to hurt Erky. Ram assures his companions that he is disinclined to do so, even without their threats.Also, although this hardly gets mentioned- except in passing by Vinnie, how the hell did Erky get his hands on a (fake) Durgeddin the Black weapon, and why did he sell it to Big Al- a mystery, inside a riddle etc.So, we're moving very quickly now because we want to get to the next bit, and there's not much time left (we play to 11 PM) in the session. Onwards then to Castell Gwythyr, a small fort in the Neverwinter Woods, and the Dark Squad's new base of operations for their search for Khundrukhar (this as arranged by Gundren), the place is also the abode of… that’s right- Erky Timbers, two birds- one stone.Oh, but before we go (leave Neverwinter) just to say it’s winter now- with snow on the ground, but mostly a light sprinkling of the white stuff. However, cold weather and mountaineering gear is purchased before the PCs depart.Buggles wears a bobble hat throughout the rest of this session- it's what he does, he's the awkward one.Then five days following the Neverwinter River and eventually into the Forest, and on to Castell Gwythyr.[ATTACH=full]124740[/ATTACH]Welcome to Castell Gwythyr.The place is well-maintained, sturdy and home to Lord Boskin and about two dozen others, a military outpost (of sorts) in the wilds- it does a great deal of trade with trappers and the like.The Dark Squad introduce themselves and discover that the local Lord has a problem of his own- a bunch of orcs have moved into the region, they’ve been attacking trappers and prospectors alike- and all through the summer months. Lord Boskin is willing to pay a bounty of 5gp per orc right hand returned to the fort.More chatter follows, until the local scout is called for and a map found- the name of the small mountain near which the orcs reportedly lair is…Can you guess?Stone Tooth.[ATTACH=full]124741[/ATTACH]Stone Tooth- found it, that was easy.It's all starting to fit into place.The Dark Squad are keen to get going, although...First a chat with the aberrant Erky, the gnome priest of Tymora however has a different story to tell- it seems he did indeed sell the (fake) Durgeddin the Black hand axe to ‘Big Al’, but in circumstances rather different to those described by the Shoreman halfling boss.Erky’s version of events starts with him being robbed while visiting Neverwinter, and then on discovery of the Durgeddin axe on his person, being dragged back to the Shoremen’s clubhouse for further interrogation/investigation. The gnome mainly bluffed his way out of the place, using priestly and gnomish cantrips to make ‘Big Al’ think he had some power of his own. Yes, he got paid 250gp but that money has gone back to the church- actually he gambled most of it away, remember- he's a priest of Tymora, and a risk taker.Lots of questions follow? I’ll try for a list, with answers.1) Why did you sell the 'Durgeddin' axe to Big Al for only 250gp, answer- Erky had no idea how much a Durgeddin the Black weapon is worth, he therefore just thought of a number. Point of fact the gnome explains, he only came to know about Durgeddin weapons courtesy of the Dark Squad back in the Sunless Citadel.2) The axe isn’t a Durgeddin the Black, it’s a fake- or else, well… something else, why did you say it was the real deal? Erky genuinely thought it was the real deal. That’s what his brother told him.3) Brother? Erky tells the PCs about his brother- Spandwick (see below), who lives with his wife Bel in a hut out in the forest, just a day away from the Stone Tooth mountain, the Dark Squad are keen to meet Spandwick- where did he get the axe from?4) What is Erky going to do? Big Al wants his money back, and Ram is here to cut your ear/hand off. Note Ram intervenes at this point, he makes it clear that he’s not going to do either of these things, but- Big Al will send someone here to do his dirty work. Erky is however of the opinion that Big Al can shove his head up his arse, he’s not giving him the money (or his ear/hand). Stalemate.Ram repeats his warning, several times, Erky continues to appear unconcerned- the conversation spreads its wings for a while, and the other members of the Dark Squad get involved (as previously) all taking Erky’s side. Eventually, we leave it there.Although last bit, Erky’s brother Spandwick is an odd fish- the name is recognized by both Newt and Vinnie, Spandwick the Magic Gnome was a great performer back in his day- a household name in Waterdeep maybe a decade or so ago. Spandwick is/was a stage mesmerist- able to read the minds of the various members of his audience. Later, after the tragedy (see below), it emerged that the vast part of his magic was used to change the appearance of his wife- Bel, from a young and beautiful gnome to the volunteer human/half-orc/dwarf i.e. the subject from the audience. Spandwick’s entire show was a con, the truth revealed during his greatest performance, and mid 'mind-meld' with a young prince from foreign shores- played by Bel, of course. Anyway, mid 'mind-meld' Bel went crazy and started raving- screaming out her name, and in that instant Spandwick’s magic failed- and revealed her true form. He was booed off the stage, shamed before all of Waterdeep, and effectively thrown out of the (stage show) magic circle.The show during which the above tragedy struck was to the largest audience the gnome had ever played- the lords and ladies of the City of Splendours. He was a laughing stock, and worse still for a while (several years) Bel was incarcerated in an asylum at Helm’s Hold.Their life in tatters Spandwick and Bel, moved to the back of beyond and disappeared from view.So, back to the here and now...Erky therefore has a request, if the Dark Squad are heading into the Neverwinter Woods and to the Stone Tooth, can they please check in on his shamed brother, and his (crazed) wife- sure thing, anything for you Erky is the consensus.That however is at last the end of the session.[Meetings at Castell Gwythyr 200 XP]Next session we're ready for it, winter gear on- ahead a journey into the cold Neverwinter Woods, to the Stone Tooth- find the Orcs (and kill 'em), then find Khundrukhar and the lost forges of Durgeddin the Black. Easy, they'll probably get it all done by the end of the next session.Stay safe and well.Cheers goonalan.</blockquote>

Verification