29th Third Quarter 998
Conspirator
Guy Cahill
[4] Just how maps and your intuition showed, northern reaches of Greenhaven province were good areas for starting base constructions. Within next Quarter it's efficiency should raise.
[2] You send an order to begin printing of leaflets that's promote Order of the Rising Sun within Greenhaven. It might not be enough to increase it's influence, but it won't anger people.
[5] You quickly make a plan of renovation of ruins, including people & resources needed and time. If everything goes as planned, all of them would be restored by the end of next Quarter!
[1] You send letters to priests from other provinces in which you mention building churches in your province. This might anger people, as most of them are pagan.
Adventure
Sapphire and Jack
Well, that was !FUN! - Sapphire said jokingly before going into bed.
Damned bandits! As soon as we get that contract, I'll wipe all of them out of city's streets! - Jack didn't caught the joke and responded with a half-shout, then fallen asleep after relaxing a little.
[4] When the morning came they both woke up and got their stuff, then went downstairs and left the tavern. The sun was slowly raising on the eastern sky, it was a little cold. Alley outside "The Striking Hammer" wasn't crowded yet. Sapphire and Jack followed it straight and then turned to other alleys until they got to the entrance of Mercenaries guildhall.
[4] The doors were already open, some people entering the guildhall. Siblings followed them and entered the building. On first impression the place looked just like a tavern, with people sitting by tables and talking, drinking or gambling. Some troubadours played a calm and relaxing tune. Sapphire asked some woman where they can sign up, and she pointed them to a clerk.
[3] They approached a tall, dark haired man in his late thirties. Before saying anything Sapphire gave Jack a look so he could know that she'll do all the talking. Then she said:
Good day sir, my name is Sapphire and this is my brother Jack. Is it the right place to sign up to Mercenaries guild?[2] The man looked at them, he seemed kinda irritated for some reason. He said:
Yes, this is mercenaries guild, I'm Aze Longspan, Wickbreach's recruiter. And yes, we're currently recruiting new members. Are you sure that you want to sign up? - they could easily hear irritation in his voice. Sapphire responded:
Yes, we certainly want to join in. Can you tell us more about the guild and duties we're bound to after joining it? Jack slowly started losing his patience.
[3] The man have calmed down a little seeing that Sapphire was serious about their joining.
It's pretty simple - after joining you can use the guildhall as a place to rest or train, just be sure to get keys to the building in a city you're inm so you could enter at night. You also receive a small discount on equipment prices from merchants that cooperate with us. However, after joining you're bound to once a quarter pay a ransom dependent on contract. If you don't take any contract for that quarter, you have to pay sixty Florins. When joining in you must pay a sign up fee of forty Florins. Do you want to join? Before Sapphire could reply, Jack cut in.
Sixty Florins each quarter!? That's damn a lot! For this price I could spend eight days in a luxurious tavern partying like there'd be no tomorrow!. Sapphire apologized for her brother and said that they're ready to join. The man took two unsigned contracts from chest of drawers and gave it them so they could sign them - originals and a copy. He gave them copies so they could show them to future employers. They payed the sign up fee and received keys to guildhall.
[2] They bid goodbye to the man and left guildhall, then wandered around dirty alleys in search of city guard's barracks. They couldn't find the place and had to ask a few times to know where they actually are. Wickbreach is a huge city after all, and they were wandering around it as if it was a maze of some kind. It turned out that these barracks are on the other side of eastern bridge, across Waythee river.
[3] Afternoon came before they got through all the crowded streets and alleys, but Sapphire and Jack finally reached barracks of city guard. They entered the place and asked about Captain of the Guard. One of officers showed them way to a short, bulky Larramsirian man. Captain Ingrelius, he served Wickbreach for years. Siblings showed him their contracts with mercenaries guild and they spoke about an assignment.
[2] Despite Sapphire's seductive skills and Jack's mercantile knowledge, they couldn't haggle a better reward for this assignment. It also looked like guards haven't had any spare equipment for them. Reward still kept at 300 Florins for clearing streets out of bandits until end of next Quarter, which considering the ransom would grant them 240 Florins. A great deal, and not as dangerous as joining a war battalion. Siblings agreed to take the assignment, took a contract from Captain and left.
[6] They quickly got back to guildhall and gave Aze contract from Ingrelius. The man was surprised that they got an assignment so quickly and mentioned giving them a bonus after the contract is finished. Sapphire and Jack spent rest of the day resting and preparing for the night, and when it got dark, they took torches and went for the streets.
Tyr Loknar
[4] After waking up Tyr scrambled out of hay and left the shed. He decided to take another visit at the madman's cottage. At the doors he met another man, younger than the madman and wearing better clothing.
Who are you? And what do you want from the old Llathandril? - he asked. Tyr replied:
Lor Tayknr. I was heading to New Larramsir when I sidetracked and lost my way in the forest. I saw that cottage and wanted to ask for food. The man laughed and said:
Asking the old weirdo for food? Ha ha ha! Hell, you wouldn't even understand him, bastard keeps mumbling something incomprehensible! But there is a trick to make him talking - bring him food or any other gift and all of a sudden he's able to speak again! Out of curiosity, Tyr asked:
And why would you want to speak with him anyway? The man hesitated at first, but he told Tyr that Llathandril is an alchemist. And not any charlatan - a master alchemist! He was bringing him supplies in exchange for alchemical knowledge for years.
[4] They entered the stinking cottage. This time it reeked with suplhur, some strange gas in the air slightly burning to their eyes. As soon as the old man saw his student, he poured some liquid on the floor from a small vial. It instantly started bulging and solidified into sulphur. The stench and burning sensations were gone.
Ah, Marius! You've finally arrived! And I see that you brought the uninvited guest I met last night. - Llathandril said looking at Tyr, then kneeled and started picking up sulphur from the floor.
I'd like apologize for that. I was... - before Loknar could end, the alchemist said:
I understand you. If I was chased by a heavy armored squad of imperial soldiers in these forests, then I'd be desperate to find some hideout. They came here an hour after you, my role of mad hermit was convincing enough for them and they left. I'm really sorry for the trouble. Just wanted to stay for the night and ask for some food, then be on my way. - Tyr apologized again and revealed his intentions.
[5]
Well, we can give you just that. And you said that you were headed to New Larramsir, yes? - Marius took a bundle with bread and a waterskin from his backpack. Tyr said
That's right. Why? while taking the bundle and waterskin.
I have a package that must be delivered to Ivette Jeannis in New Larramsir's great market. Would you be so kind and bring it to them on your way? I'm sure she'll reward you well. After a while of consideration Tyr agreed and took the package. They bid goodbye and when he was just about to leave, Llathandril shouted to him:
Oh, and don't forget that under any circumstances you can't open the package! Ingredients inside are highly unstable in contact with air, which most likely will end up with explosion![3] Tyr Loknar found his way back to the Wolf's Road and followed it until it got darker, then he slightly moved into forest and set up a campfire.
Euzaroch
[2] Euzaroch quite liked the modes and small feast villagers made to celebrate his arrival. Meat of the moose he killed made it better for most of paesants. What interested him more was the sorcerer however, and any knowledge he could possess.
[4] He walked up to sorcerer for a little conversation.
I'm Euzaroch. Despite rather harsh first meeting, I greet you as my pagan brother. The sorcerer took off his moose skull mask, revealling a face covered in scars. The man had one empty eyesocket and noticed Euzaroch staring at it.
Lost it in wilderness... Welcome in White Fell brother. What brings you here? - that wilderness bit seemed eerie, but Euzaroch didn't wanted to ask. Instead he said:
Just wandering. It's... a family matter... - he stopped in the middle of sentence though, memories of his family flashing in his mind.
I see. I apologize for that greeting. People here seem unnerved for some reason. I wanted to deal with their bloodthirst in different way. Like, killing a rabbit and pouring both his blood and firewater into bowl at the same time. - he said about the firewater while checking if nobody listened to them talking.
So you use alchemy in rituals? What people say about this? - Euzaroch asked curiously.
They simply don't know about it. They don't even know the rituals! You see, people claim they are pagan mostly out of fear. Outlaws and beasts plague the wilderness, soil becomes infertile and rumors of Gretanar invasion are really getting on their nerves. I use alchemy to show them that there is a real power watching their safety. Without it, they'd just crumble. Euzaroch asked:
So they don't even know about Zyugewolg? It's existence pre and post Reckoning? Trials of Zyugewolg? Gods of elements, legend of the Galthanauvar? Sorcerer seemed surprised that Euzaroch possessed knowledge of pagan mythos.
They are completely ignorant, and there's nothing I could do about it. All they want is some flashy liquid magic and a pompous show... Looks like I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Kallun. I live here since 987. - Kallun was probably right about people and paganism, but it wasn't only a problem of this village. In his previous travels he have seen that most people are completely ignorant about the truth.
The feast went on. Euzaroch asked if Kallun could tell him who really matters in this village. First he pointed him a chubby dark haired woman in mid-twenties. It was Lyira, village's healer and herbalist. She was dancing with a tall, ugly man. It was Nayrik, local huntsman. There was also a short, muscular man in early forties with dense, black beard - Olndirk, blacksmith. He was sitting by a table and talking with Allayah, eldest man in the village. Euzaroch and Kallun were talking until the feast was over, conversing about mythos and politics. Sorcerer invited him to stay for the night, and Euzaroch took the invitation.
Julia DragonBlood
[3] Julia left tavern and moved on to streets of Greenhaven. They were crowded, but unlike what can be seen in many other cities, they were kept clean. Passing by merchants yelling about quality of their merchandise on main square, Julia got to a message board in search of information about work.
[3] There were four notes pinned to the board that caught Julia's interest. First one was left by Lurch Onello, a local equipment trader. He wanted to hire some mercenaries to search for a caravan lost in nearby forest that was supposed to bring him merchandise a week ago. The reward were 30 Florins and abillity to take three objects from the caravan if it's found. Second note was left by Greenhaven's Royal Huntsman, Terronius Bog. It was a warning about wolves getting closer to villages just east of Greenhaven city. There was a salary of 20 florins a day for securing villages and bringing skins of wolves to Terronius. Third note was most beneficial, but it involved far travel. A caravan looked for a guard on a route to Cair Taenaron, with reward of 250 Florins. Fourth note was left by Mercantile triangle, they needed to hire a guardian for their guildhall, paying 50 Florins a day.
[3] Julia written down notes and decided to find a weaponsmith and get a halberd. She asked someone on the street and she was told that there's a weaponsmith in craftsmen alley. She got there after a while.
[4] The weaponosmith's shop was well equipped and there were many good weapons for purchase. The prices were good too - Julia bought a Fine Steel Halberd for 40 Florins and strapped it to her back. She asked the weaponsmith if he knows where she can find adventuring gear, and he told her there is a stand where she can buy anything in main square's market.
[1] She left the shop and headed towards market. On the way there she noticed that she's followed by someone. She turned back, but there was no one to be seen.
[Julia: 2, Thug: 4] Suddenly someone charged at her from a small alley to her right! She tried to dodge the charge, but she was a little bit too slow and the thug slammed at her right arm! She started fighting to keep balance and managed to do it, then drawn her halberd as thug recovered from the attack.
Throw your coin purse on the ground and I won't hurt you... too much! - he said, smirking.
[Julia: 3, Thug: 2] Julia hastily attacked the thug, stabbing with spike of her halberd's head. He barely dodged, Julia only scratched his arm.
[Julia: 1, Thug: 6, Guards: 4] The thug slightly backed off then leaped at Julia. She tried to parry attack, but bandit's strike with iron mace was so strong that it knocked her off her legs! She fallen to the ground. Luckily a city guard appeared and drove the thug out. He helped Julia get up from the ground, she picked up her halberd and strapped it to her back.
Everything fine lady? - the guard asked with concern.
I could've dealt with him on my own! But nevertheless, thank you for help. - Julia said as if she lost a challenge.
We're trying to catch that particular outlaw for weeks! Be careful next time. - Guard said with irritated voice. Julia responded:
I will, thank you. - and left to the market.
[6] She got to the stand where she was supposed to get everything necessary, but traders were leaving the market and heading towards their home. That stand was already closed.
[2] Slightly disappointed, Julia wandered around the market trying to find a tavern. "The Trader's Lounge", "Watchful Guardian" and "Lucky Fisherman" had no vacancies, but she found a room in a "Threeway Inn". They could offer her only a bed, so she took a meal from food she had packed and fallen asleep.
GM notes
I'm changing updating schedule from everyday to when it's done, it's taking really long to write it all...
Author
Topic: Heroes of Tenath [8/8] (Read 20176 times)