The party finished their fact-finding search with the outlying farmers and then returned to town for some dinner, arguing, sneaking around, and lying. There is a different mix of characters in this group than the last one, also as evidenced moreso by the people playing the characters (people who were "good" and honest and level headed in the last group don't have nearly the same compunctions in this iteration).
I am still taking it slow at this point, it's a different area of the world and I want to encourage LARPing and town exploration since it is something they haven't had much opportunity to partake in as of late. This does mean though that they are quickly realizing thattheir actions in a town setting have longer ranged and unexpected consequences. I'm having a good time, and it seems they are too.
Write up follows:
The group rode on to the Gallowspire Homestead. It was literally the last location and the most recent awarded, the Gallowspire’s being there just only a bit over 2 months. The wall was a mix of stone and barbed wire and what we saw of the place it was still in the construction phase. The house was complete, the barn was not, the animal pens were mere staked areas and the fields looked like they had been cut and burned. To our best guess it was only about 3 acres prepared so far.
The Gallowspires were willing to talk and invited us on after verifying our credentials. We had learned that once again various horse and farming gear was taken as well as plowshares and strangely enough – 25 lbs of wheat seed. But the seed alone was taken, not the bag it had sat in.
We assured Gallowspire that we would get some resolution and Brother Device once again reached into his pouch and gave the farmer some coin from his pouch as well as his own promise of justice. From here we left Gallowspire, rode back to Shakun, and talked about what we had learned.
At Southgate the guards informed us that we were expected at Town Hall. So the group went where they found Zarik Ikarsbane as well as the third elf that had expressed an interest in joining the group: Fist’al Deiner, elven scout. Introductions were made and then we spent some time giving Zarik the heads up on what we had learned and catching Fist’al up to date.
Enthir took a short detour to Pelis, his friend and landlord, to ask him (as a merchant and occasional raconteur) is he had heard of the Broman family or Liera or Bradone. He didn’t have much to add and couldn’t truly give Enthir too much information.
As for the group, they went to the Pixie Down Tavern for a meal and to talk about what to do next while some of the party detoured to the temple grounds and talked to Father Gavilerin. We learned that the Broman family was part of what had been called “The Final 30”, the last group of men and women who gave their lives to hold the battlelines when the goblins were attempting to flee Shakun 16 months ago during the lifting of the siege by the elven and human liberators. There were 4 who died Master and Misses Broman, his elder brother, and their eldest son. Four of the 30 who gave the ultimate sacrifice for everyone else. They had a home on the west end of town, somewhere near Exotic Transportation.
We all reconvened at Pixie Down where we ate dinner (of which bacon figured heavily!) Then there was some talk about what we had learned and what to do next. Marcus and Device volunteered to go to Exotic Transportation in order to find some more info on the Broman family.
The proprietor of Exotic Transportation was a flamboyant and sad man named Eherego who bemoaned the fact that years ago before the goblins came he had rhinos and pegasi and racing lizards for sale and he was known the county wide. Today his wares were nags and mules and ponies. During the conversation with Device the half-orc priest promised he would get in touch with someone he knew who had a Pegasus and see what he could do to get it to him. Eherego believed him, no one else did.
We did learn more of the Final 30 and the Broman family and their home was across the road – the middle home. It was a nice upperclass structure that had been unlived in for some time. Marcus and Device checked it out. The path was over grown and it led around the back. The front door looked unused for some time.
They chanced a trip into the garden out back and it was there that a hunting dog that had gone somewhat feral had growled angrily at the two of them. Device responded swiftly and stepped in front of Marcus who was beginning a spell. The cleric was badly bit and mauled across the left arm as he tried to pry the 120 lb shepherd dog back. And then Marcus’ spell went off and the dog fell asleep. So did Marcus. So did another dog further in the garden behind a fountain. And so did some guy in the next house.
Marcus knew we had only 5 minutes so he quickly tied up the dog here and then checked out the other one. Not having enough rope he drew a belt knife and instead stabbed the dangerous 2nd dog a few times. Like 16 of them.
As Device woke up (and the other dog too) they quickly took note of the area (yes, there were roses here – and they were cut – as well as some spices from the gone feral garden) and decided to leave. Device muzzled the dog with some of the last of the rope and then hoisted the animal and the two friends began the walk back to the Pixie Down Tavern.
Marcus walked ahead. Leaving Device – 260 lbs of half orc, one of 4 in the entire town, bleeding down his left arm and carrying a 120 lb. tied up and angry snarling German shepherd in front of him. That’s why Marcus walked alone.
As Pixie Down we got Flimflam who stepped out and took control of the situation, calming the guards who had come to see what the heck was going on. He charmed the dog, making it HIS friend (not the group as was evidenced by the snarling and growling) and then we all went back to the Waywocket home to talk about what Marcus and Device had learned.
Flimflam spoke with the dog and settled on “Whosea” as a name (short for “who’s a puppy?”) – learning that there were 2 dogs at some point and they lived there and someone would come and visit.
And then we had visitors. More militia guards came, this time with Master and Misses Tudron. They lived on the west end of town and while Master Tudron was going to be resting his gout filled feet he was overcome by an unnatural fatigue and fell asleep for no reason! He was convinced it was foul spirits and he was cursed and with the demonic noises that came next door from the old Broman place, he would like the group to investigate and solve his hexing!
We used this as an opportunity to get militia approval to look over the Broman house without sneaking about and the Tudron couple were willing to pay 11 gold coins to have the issue fixed. We took the money, the job, and went back to the Broman home at 7:15 PM.
The front door was locked, the back as well but a simpler lock. Fist’al opened it and then we checked out the home. Mudroom, living room, kitchen, dining room, pantry, den, various closets and upstairs 4 bedrooms and a water closet. Most of the furnishings were gone but what was there showed a few clues. A copy of the back door key was under the couch cushions and the smallest bedroom had little girl clothes and beddings still there (as well as some dolls).
We also discovered three pictures. One of the entire family maybe 6 years ago, one of them perhaps 2 years ago, and a recent one of just what we assume to be Liera and Bradone. It was noted that the little girl that was in the earlier pictures was not in the last one and that the two Broman’s depicted appeared to be troubled and haunted in their expressions.
By 8:15 we were back at the Tudron’s and used a variety of gnomish tricks to make one of the little girl’s dolls appear to be a voodoo doll of some sort and the group made a show of “breaking” the spell and ending the curse. Then they advised Master Tudron to lay off the alcohol late at night or at least cut the amount in half and it would resolve most of gout issue. We were paid for our services and the Tudron’s spoke highly of our skills.
We left and although it was getting late we wanted to see if there were some other trees we could shake to find the two elusive Bradone teens – Enthir was pushing for Tanner’s Way and the lower class section of town, there was talk of watching the house over the next few days to see who came, possibly using Whosea to help sniff out the identity of Liera, or even having Fist’al get involved as there were thefts going on near the town and someone might have an idea.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Meet 1, Adv 1, 5/12/12
Simple premise for the 1st meeting, 1st adventure - bandits. But as usual, I have long reaching ideas and eventual pathways that this can go - and it's never as "face value" as the group thinks. I also like to name my adventures - and this one is called "A Touch of Spice". Comes from being an old Star Trek fan and enjoying the revelation sort of titles to the episodes.
This was a get together, role play, go out and get a feel for the area and the people that make it up. There will be d20 rolling at some point, but not for another meeting or two.
Write up follows:
Flimflam had a sit down with his son Ironboar about the possibility of running an adventuring group as the elder gnome had been asked by Baron Taugis to head a group. The younger gnome who was in the process of self pleasuring agreed to the group and the two of them spoke into the night about the meeting the next day and who might join up.
Meanwhile across town near Sutor’s Forge, the Rhyback family was sitting down to dinner. Derrick, the patriarch of the half-orcish family, listened to his 2 younger sons casually bring up the criers today and their interest in interviewing people for an adventuring party on the morrow. Device, the elder and templar cleric to Athena and Tempi, the younger and known to be a bit unstable and brutish, both wanted to join. Their mother was worried about them and wanted them to remember to come home often.
Device snuck out with a few bottles of homemade swill he had been making and “bribed” Flimflam Waywocket to accept his 2 sons into the group tomorrow. The gnome was familiar with Device and the younger one was familiar with Tempi, so it was assumed the answer would be yes.
On the eastern end of town just north of the Elven Quarter, a trio of three elves were meeting in the Ogre Doors Inn and knocking back a weak wine, each of them agreeing to join the possible group on the morrow. Enthir, the eldest, was a scribe and wizard, Marcus was a spellsword and archer, and Fist’al, the youngest of the 3, had come to town as a scout over a year and a half ago with lots of money in his pocket and never seemed to need for anything. They agreed to meet in the morning and apply for the job.
Plantmonth the 2nd dawned bright and clear and the Town Hall was opened with Zarik Ikarsbane, the local hero and town’s First Citizen, sitting court to help guide Flimflam and usher in the possible applicants. And it was a dismal showing. For the majority of the morning on three people showed to join: Device Rhyback the half-orc cleric, Tempi Rhyback the half-orc warrior and hothead, and Enthir the Grey Elven wizard who was outmassed by the Rhyback brothers by almost a factor of 3. Each.
Small displays of power were given as well as a short speech of who each person was and their skills and shortcomings. Eventually we learned that 2 other elves were supposed to come but hadn’t shown up as of yet. We agreed to each other and a Charter was requested from the Baron as well as a brief discussion of what our job would be.
Banditry was the first on the list. We had three of the furthest homesteads been targeted over the last 4 weeks where a variety of sundry items were taken. In one case, the Dormanger family, the eldest son had actually interrupted some of the theft and had been wounded in the scuffle. It was suggested we go and find what is going on that far from Shakun and bring the bandits to justice. 50 crowns if we disrupt their banditry and bring them to justice, 25 crowns if we are unable to recover the stolen goods.
At this point the 2nd elf, Marcus, strode in. Resplendent in his armor, a 4 and half foot long bow across his back, he looked every bit the elven warrior. His application was accepted almost immediately and we brought him up to speed. Flimflam had asked the Baron Taugis would lend us a horse and cart and we were given a swaybacked nag and hay cart to use, knowing we would have to return it at end of day.
We geared up and met at south gate where we took ownership of the cart and horse, climbed on, and rode out of town through the fields and homesteads. It took us the better part of an hour to ride to the furthest south and west homesteads – larger parcels of lands each over 70 acres large. The first family was the Jerinston family.
From our conversation with the family patriarch, Henes, we learned that he was robbed at dusk when coming back from town. They took his nag, the short cart he had been driving, as well as whatever he had gotten that day: 50 commons, 80 bits, 3 weeks of food stuff and feed for the horses, 40 worked 2x4 plankings, 2# of iron nails and the metal bucket they were in, as well was 5 yards of sky blue with white thread shot fabric he had picked up for the misses and daughter for the Gaia’s Day dance next week.
We know it happened on market day and he was a little inebriated on the way home. Also he could tell there were 2 assailants. One was behind him with a knife to his throat and he suspected a second one and it smelled faintly…pretty. It was dark and did not see and they took his stuff and left.
From there we went to the next homestead the Dormanger family. It was here that we spoke to the family leader, a proud man named Orin. He had been robbed twice – the first time they only took a single plowshare and he at the time thought his younger had left it in the field. The second time was just 3 days ago and his eldest son, Verim, was accosted during the robbery.
They took 1 yoke for his oxen, a second plowshare, 100’ of braided wire for fencing, some pliers and snips, 2 bridles, 5 gallons of distilled vinegar and 1 gallon of olive oil.
We spoke to Verim and had the young man healed, his arm wound was in bad shape. The Dormanger family was happy to talk to us and we sat at their table to eat. Verim was not very descriptive of what happened and some of his points were vague. It was at the early part of the morn and he was hit from behind, struggled, and then slashed and left there as they stole from him.
Under more direct questioning he claimed he was tired and went to his room to rest. So Flimflam and Ironboar went in to talk to him after Orin let us know that Verim was upset at moving out here 6 months ago and leaving his friends in the city behind. There was a girl involved, Liera, and she was part of a family that Orin didn’t want his son associating with.
The two gnomes talked to Verim but Ironboar and the young man grew angered at one another and then blows were thrown and the two men struggled as Verim claimed it was goblins and Ironboar called him a bloody liar. Flimflam was forced to heal the young man again and we got him to calm down and learned that Liera was there with her brother and some of her friends. They wanted to get some stuff and maybe have their own homestead. Verim had relations with Liera and was very in love but the gnomes think that she was using and duping the young man.
As for the goblins, he swears it was true and the goblins came from nowhere and attacked Liera and her friends and well as Verim and then everyone fled.
We went with Verim and Orin the back of the acreage where we saw the back gate had been forced opened and crudely wrapped with wire fencing. Some drag marks led off to the west and the hills there but that meant little to us as it was lost quickly.
We left the Dormanger family it was just after 2 PM on Plantmonth the 2nd and were talking of what we learned, Ironboar needing to chill the hell out, and going to see the Gallowspire family next.
This was a get together, role play, go out and get a feel for the area and the people that make it up. There will be d20 rolling at some point, but not for another meeting or two.
Write up follows:
Flimflam had a sit down with his son Ironboar about the possibility of running an adventuring group as the elder gnome had been asked by Baron Taugis to head a group. The younger gnome who was in the process of self pleasuring agreed to the group and the two of them spoke into the night about the meeting the next day and who might join up.
Meanwhile across town near Sutor’s Forge, the Rhyback family was sitting down to dinner. Derrick, the patriarch of the half-orcish family, listened to his 2 younger sons casually bring up the criers today and their interest in interviewing people for an adventuring party on the morrow. Device, the elder and templar cleric to Athena and Tempi, the younger and known to be a bit unstable and brutish, both wanted to join. Their mother was worried about them and wanted them to remember to come home often.
Device snuck out with a few bottles of homemade swill he had been making and “bribed” Flimflam Waywocket to accept his 2 sons into the group tomorrow. The gnome was familiar with Device and the younger one was familiar with Tempi, so it was assumed the answer would be yes.
On the eastern end of town just north of the Elven Quarter, a trio of three elves were meeting in the Ogre Doors Inn and knocking back a weak wine, each of them agreeing to join the possible group on the morrow. Enthir, the eldest, was a scribe and wizard, Marcus was a spellsword and archer, and Fist’al, the youngest of the 3, had come to town as a scout over a year and a half ago with lots of money in his pocket and never seemed to need for anything. They agreed to meet in the morning and apply for the job.
Plantmonth the 2nd dawned bright and clear and the Town Hall was opened with Zarik Ikarsbane, the local hero and town’s First Citizen, sitting court to help guide Flimflam and usher in the possible applicants. And it was a dismal showing. For the majority of the morning on three people showed to join: Device Rhyback the half-orc cleric, Tempi Rhyback the half-orc warrior and hothead, and Enthir the Grey Elven wizard who was outmassed by the Rhyback brothers by almost a factor of 3. Each.
Small displays of power were given as well as a short speech of who each person was and their skills and shortcomings. Eventually we learned that 2 other elves were supposed to come but hadn’t shown up as of yet. We agreed to each other and a Charter was requested from the Baron as well as a brief discussion of what our job would be.
Banditry was the first on the list. We had three of the furthest homesteads been targeted over the last 4 weeks where a variety of sundry items were taken. In one case, the Dormanger family, the eldest son had actually interrupted some of the theft and had been wounded in the scuffle. It was suggested we go and find what is going on that far from Shakun and bring the bandits to justice. 50 crowns if we disrupt their banditry and bring them to justice, 25 crowns if we are unable to recover the stolen goods.
At this point the 2nd elf, Marcus, strode in. Resplendent in his armor, a 4 and half foot long bow across his back, he looked every bit the elven warrior. His application was accepted almost immediately and we brought him up to speed. Flimflam had asked the Baron Taugis would lend us a horse and cart and we were given a swaybacked nag and hay cart to use, knowing we would have to return it at end of day.
We geared up and met at south gate where we took ownership of the cart and horse, climbed on, and rode out of town through the fields and homesteads. It took us the better part of an hour to ride to the furthest south and west homesteads – larger parcels of lands each over 70 acres large. The first family was the Jerinston family.
From our conversation with the family patriarch, Henes, we learned that he was robbed at dusk when coming back from town. They took his nag, the short cart he had been driving, as well as whatever he had gotten that day: 50 commons, 80 bits, 3 weeks of food stuff and feed for the horses, 40 worked 2x4 plankings, 2# of iron nails and the metal bucket they were in, as well was 5 yards of sky blue with white thread shot fabric he had picked up for the misses and daughter for the Gaia’s Day dance next week.
We know it happened on market day and he was a little inebriated on the way home. Also he could tell there were 2 assailants. One was behind him with a knife to his throat and he suspected a second one and it smelled faintly…pretty. It was dark and did not see and they took his stuff and left.
From there we went to the next homestead the Dormanger family. It was here that we spoke to the family leader, a proud man named Orin. He had been robbed twice – the first time they only took a single plowshare and he at the time thought his younger had left it in the field. The second time was just 3 days ago and his eldest son, Verim, was accosted during the robbery.
They took 1 yoke for his oxen, a second plowshare, 100’ of braided wire for fencing, some pliers and snips, 2 bridles, 5 gallons of distilled vinegar and 1 gallon of olive oil.
We spoke to Verim and had the young man healed, his arm wound was in bad shape. The Dormanger family was happy to talk to us and we sat at their table to eat. Verim was not very descriptive of what happened and some of his points were vague. It was at the early part of the morn and he was hit from behind, struggled, and then slashed and left there as they stole from him.
Under more direct questioning he claimed he was tired and went to his room to rest. So Flimflam and Ironboar went in to talk to him after Orin let us know that Verim was upset at moving out here 6 months ago and leaving his friends in the city behind. There was a girl involved, Liera, and she was part of a family that Orin didn’t want his son associating with.
The two gnomes talked to Verim but Ironboar and the young man grew angered at one another and then blows were thrown and the two men struggled as Verim claimed it was goblins and Ironboar called him a bloody liar. Flimflam was forced to heal the young man again and we got him to calm down and learned that Liera was there with her brother and some of her friends. They wanted to get some stuff and maybe have their own homestead. Verim had relations with Liera and was very in love but the gnomes think that she was using and duping the young man.
As for the goblins, he swears it was true and the goblins came from nowhere and attacked Liera and her friends and well as Verim and then everyone fled.
We went with Verim and Orin the back of the acreage where we saw the back gate had been forced opened and crudely wrapped with wire fencing. Some drag marks led off to the west and the hills there but that meant little to us as it was lost quickly.
We left the Dormanger family it was just after 2 PM on Plantmonth the 2nd and were talking of what we learned, Ironboar needing to chill the hell out, and going to see the Gallowspire family next.
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