–Episode 17–
-Immersion-Shrieking-
Scene #112:
The madwoman follows us from the ruined manor, screaching hysterically as we lead Buckbelly, now burdened with Evers’ corpse, down the hill. “I wish she would just shut up!”‘ mutters Sylvia.
I glance back towards the madwoman, and wonder, “Would be better if we had some clue what she was saying?”
Sylvia gives her a quick look, then shakes her head, “Probably not.”
-Evening-No Encounter-
We pass through terraced farmland and are soon approaching the great red stone walls of Truestone. “Wow!” Sylvia whistles, “That’s impressive.”
I nod in agreement as we approach the gate. The watchman hails us in Norgard while one of his men comes over to inspect Evers’ corpse.
Q: Kardashev? YES
I return the greeting in my own tongue and the sergeant then replies in kind, “Who was this? Did you kill him?”
“A friend of ours, originally from Gieldrith. Where is the graveyard?”
Q: Do they interrogate us? EXCEPTIONAL YES
“How did he die? When and where?” the sergeant demands.
-Persuasion 16-
“Torn asunder by a demon in the hills south of Halcenth. We were exploring an old mine near a ruined manor house. There had been serpent cultists there, and they summoned something. We narrowly escaped with our lives,” I explain, handing the guard one of the serpent pendants.
“These statues I see,” he scowls in disgust, “Found them with the cultists? Should have smashed them.”
“Metal is precious even melted down. I don’t carry a smelter on the back of our mule,” I reply.
The guard shakes his head, “Follow the main avenue up to the Temple. They will see to your friend,” the guard waves us inside.
-Street Encounter-Goblins!- (Generate high priestess and a novice on duty as well)
We follow the main street towards the temple, and amidst the bustling streets, we are surprised to see a goblin attempting to sell some rabbit pelts to a local merchant. The goblin turns towards us and starts hawking its wares. I only catch a few words, but can’t really tell what he’s saying, only the intent. I brush him off and continue towards the temple.
As with most Freian temples, this is an open roofed structure. At this late hour, there are no worshippers present, just the attendants. A hairy young woman greets us as we approach. Sylvia kind of cringes as the sight.
“I am Asha. I do not recognize you,” the priestess declares approaching us. “A friend of yours?” she sneers, “Foul blooded.”
“A child of the goddess like yourself,” I retort, and show the amulet he wears around his neck.
Asha recoils, “Not like us. But perhaps not unredeemed, if you believe such a thing is possible.”
“That is the teaching of the church, is it not?” I retort.
Asha purses her lips, then admits, “It is. You may leave him here, we will see to his internment in the morning with the full rites of the faithful.”
“Thank you,” I give her a gold crown, “we will pay the rest of the fee in the morning when we see him put in the ground.”
The priestess gives a curt nod, taking the coin and having a couple of servants remove Evers from the mule. Then her eyes fall on the two idols we took from the mine. “Why do you bring such blasphemies here?”
I glance at the idols, “We killed the demon summoned using such idols, and hoped to have them melted down and sold for weight.”
“Sooner the better,” then she looks towards Evers, “He died fighting a demon?” I nod. Asha’s countenance softens as she mutters a prayer over our fallen friend. “Come back at daybreak. We will wait for you, but not past the second workbell.”
I thank her and Sylvia and I return to the market square and start looking for lodging.
-Night encounter-dumped!-randomize 1-4 Garrick, 5-6 Sylvia-
As we head back to find an inn or some stables, one of the shutters in a tenement above us flies open, and the contents of the chamber pot are spilled down along the wall, instead of hurled into the street. Sylvia is bathed in filth!
“Oh! Oh! Don’t they know how do that here!” Sylvia protests in disgust as Buckbelly shies away from the stench of urine and feces.
“We’ll find a trough, and order a bath when we find lodging,” I offer as she shakes the worst of it from her cloak, then flings some of it back up at the shutter that has already been drawn closed again.
Q: Lodging available? YES Q: stables? YES Q: Are two rooms available? YES
We soon arrive at the Hungry Hearth Inn and hand Buckbelly over to the stable boy. I start grooming the animal while Sylvia uses a bucket to wash up in the trough. Then I go inside to rent us two bedrooms.
Q: she okay with separate rooms? YES
As I hand Sylvia her key, she looks at me in confusion, “Oh, right. Good idea,” she agrees. Then we go inside. She asks for a washbasin to be brought up to her room, but is told that they won’t do that at this late hour, but the bath will be in the yard in the morning or we can go to the public bathhouse tomorrow instead. We are able to eat well as the evening meal is still being served, pints of cider and a plate of mutton hits the spot.
Q: Music? EXCEPTIONAL YES Q: Kardashev? YES
There is a scruffy looking man and a younger woman performing on a small stage near the hearth to the laughter of most members of the audience and the visible discomfort of a few. I have no idea what they are saying. The serving woman brings us our plates and tankards, and then goes and sits behind the bar, listening and laughing along with the songs.
-Event-gambling argument- Q: Does she look chastened? EXCEPTIONAL YES
While Sylvia and I eat, I hear a disturbance from one corner of the tavern. Soon it escalates into fisticuffs and I can see there are cards and coins on the table. I glance at Sylvia. She looks down at her bowl and squeezes her eyes tight, then opens them again and slowly continues eating as a man is dragged out into the street.
I get up and follow the melee outside.
Q: Are they going to kill him? YES (Intimidation 10, but I only roll 1 as number of actual combatants) Q: Does he lunge at me? YES
I see one of the men draw a knife and I shout at him to drop it. His companions back off, letting the “cheater” go, but the man with the knife glares at me. The man then throws the cheat to the ground and lunges at me. He slashes at me, nearly cutting my arm, but I tap him with a fist to the chin. Then he slashes again, but I dodge him, tapping him again. Then he slashes on last time, cutting me lightly as I step in and break his nose. He crumples to the ground in agony. I spit on the man as the cheat runs away and the knife man’s friends help him to his feet, then go back inside to reclaim their coins.
Q: Does anyone give me any trouble? YES Q: One of them? YES Q: Kardashev? YES Intimidation 5
I return to my table. Then one of the men who didn’t draw a knife walks over to my table and starts speaking in a thick accent, “You earned yourself an enemy tonight! You don’t mess with Redrock.” I stand up, pulling aside my cloak so he can clearly see my weapons, in case my armament wasn’t obvious in the darkness outside. He scoffs, “Goblin hunters think they are tough until they learn real fear.”
“Just don’t come at me where it will be hard to hide your body,” I reply, then I sit back down.
Sylvia looks at me, “And you accuse me of causing trouble. You didn’t have to go outside.”
“Didn’t I?” I raise an eyebrow.
Q: Does she agree with me? EXCEPTIONAL YES
She sighs, “I guess you are right. It’s part of who you are.”
I nod and turn back to my meal as the man continues to stand over us, confused about what exactly to do now.
Q: Does he attack? YES
Suddenly, he lunges at me but misses as I tap his chin. Then he connects with my arm, but I grab the back of his head and slam his face into the table. He slumps to the ground unconscious. Realizing the impact tipped my tankard, I dump the rest of it on him and call for a fresh drink.
After dinner, I head up to my room and Sylvia to hers. “Good night, Sylvia. I’ll get you before I head to the temple.”
“Before we head to the temple,” she corrects me. I nod, then step inside my room and secure the door and window before collapsing into a deep sleep.
-17th Vinetread-
-Pleasant, Clear Skies, High winds-
-Sixth Sense-Gloom-
Scene #113:
We stand outside the city walls with a small group of mourners and temple novices. Sylvia na I carefully shield our candles from the strong wind while the grey haired high priestess commits Evers’ soul to Freia, and asking that the goddess guide her child’s soul to Celestia. Asha stands with the other junior priests. As the body is gently lowered into the ground, Sylvia and I each throw our candles down with it. The gravediggers then start covering our fallen friend.
After the rest of the procession leaves, Sylvia and I remain by his grave. Asha gives us a small bundle of Evers’ personal effects. Though he was buried with the amulet he wore, his weapons and other goods are handed over to me as custodian. “Did he have any children or living kin?” Asha asks.
I shake my head, “I know a couple of his friends, by name and location, but he mentioned nothing else.” Asha nods and then collects the money for the service, which I pay from Evers’ purse…then seeing how little was left in it afterwards, give her the two remaining crowns as well.
-Morning Encounter-Local Character-High Priestess-
As Sylvia and I return to town find someone to take Evers’ effects back to Ravenmond for us, we spot the High Priestess talking to a watch captain. Spotting us, she approaches. “I am sorry for the loss of your friend. Am I to understand he was slain fighting the dark forces arrayed against our world? The cult of Eomen?”
I nod, producing a serpent pendant for her to see, “Yes, they summoned the creature that killed Evers, but it killed them as well. That cell destroyed itself.”
The Priestess manages a feeble smile, then suggests, “The three of you possess rare mettle, and if the two of you still possess such courage, I may have need of you in the future, for this threat…it persists as a rot in our land. A rot that must be cut out. Can I call upon you to serve as blades of the goddess?”
Q: Is Sylvia excited by this? EXCEPTIONAL YES
I glance towards Sylvia and am surprised to see her face lit up with excitement. Turning my gaze back towards the priestess, “If the mission is within our means, we will serve our divine mother and aid her church.”
The high priest smiles and puts her hands on each of our shoulders, “Then may the Goddess bless you and guide your hands, keeping you safe from harm, and guarding your souls from corruption.” Then releasing us, she adds, “I am Mother Helisa. Leave word for me with Asha or one of the other acolytes once you have settled in. I assume you will be staying in True Stone for some time, yes?”
Q: Is she eager to stay? YES E: Setback to ‘Redrock Gang wants to teach Garrick a lesson’: the Travel of the Military (Sounds like a general muster might pull half of the gang into militia duty for awhile)
I glance at Sylvia, who is nodding agreement, “Yes, we plan to stay here for a few months if we can. At least until spring. We hope there are old ruins to explore or other ways to make a living. We will leave word.”
We then part company with the priestess, and find the civic baths. Sylvia goes on in while I stop to visit a barber first.
Q: Does he want to talk? YES topic-character Q: Does he speak Kardashev? EXCEPTIONAL YES Q: Does he like Truestone? YES
The barber’s name is Marco, and he is a tall man who asks a lot of questions, wanting to know where I am from and how I came to be here. It turns out that he is from Kardashev originally as well, having fought the Gorad Mir as well before moving here. He says that he likes his new home and hopes never to see another hobgoblin again as long as he lives. I don’t tell him what I saw in Feldholm, only that we fought a number of goblins and ogres there.
-Street Encounter-Event-
After a shave and haircut, I head over towards the baths. Suddenly, there is a shout from overhead as I hear a cracking sound. I leap out of the way as a workman’s scaffold collapses, spilling red stones across the street injuring a couple of bystanders and barely missing me! I help check the people’s injuries, but seeing they are minor scrapes and bruises, I am soon back on my way.
Q: Is it crowded? YES Q: Does anyone wish to talk? YES Q: Does he speak Kardashev? EXCEPTIONAL YES
I secure my belongings with the patron and hand my clothes over to be laundered before entering the men’s baths. There are a great many men here, mostly older men or the well to do, as laborers will come near the end of the day. I sit back in the warm water while a serving girl brings over a sponge and oils offering to help me wash. Naturally, I let her take care of my back for me, then send her away to the next patron. Suddenly, the man sitting across from me demands, “Why do you keep staring at me?”
Not having really noticed him before, I blink a couple of times. His is a large man with white skin, white hair and pink eyes. “Forgive me friend, I was simply lost in thought, enjoying the warm water and the scented oils.”
Q: Does he accept this? YES
He regards me warily, then concedes, “Very well then. I’ve not seen you before.”
“Nor I you. I am new to this city, but you are from Kardashev as well, are you not?” I ask.
“How did you know that? Who told you? Were you sent here for me?” The man stiffens then stands up.
I hold up my hands but remain seated, “No. Your accent is the same as mine is all. We speak the same tongue.”
Q: Does this convince him? YES Topic-Treasure
He looks at me warily, then sits back down, “Yes. That is true. I am from…well never mind where I am from. You…you are a treasure hunter, right? Seeking your fortune here on the frontier? Yes?”
I shrug, “Ultimately, yes. A small fortune so I can live a life of ease far from the ghosts of my past would certainly be nice. With a spirited wife, rambunctious children and a hearty meal and bottle of wine at the close of each day. That would be good fortune indeed.”
The albino scoffs, “Good luck with any of that. This land will bring you more ghosts than you could ever leave behind. It is a cursed realm. The dead never rest. Orcs ravage villages, gnolls swallow up caravans and goblins lurk the wilds picking off those who dare seek the treasures of bygone days. Brave men call upon the goddess for help as they offer their blood to the endless thirst of this land that will ultimately consume us all. You should have stayed in Kardashev.”
I shrug, “Perhaps. But I was hired to come here, and haven’t chosen to return. There is still coin to be won. Perhaps I will succeed, or perhaps it will be as you say. But for now, I merely wish to enjoy my bath.”
Q: Does he accept this? YES
The man visibly relaxes, then notes, “You are different from most. My name is Everitt.”
“Garrick,” I reply.
“Garrick,” he muses, “well met.” I nod in return, then close my eyes and relax as boiling water is poured into our pool to help warm it back up.
Eventually, my fingers start to wrinkle and I get up, accepting a towel from our attendant, dry myself and recover my goods, leaving a tenpiece for the woman that helped with our basin.
-Encounter-Holyman preaching the endtimes-
On my way back to the inn, I pass a man screaming something at the top of his lungs. He wears the raiment of a priest of Freia, but torn and soiled. Everyone gives him a wide berth, and I do the same.
Q: Is Sylvia waiting? YES
At the Hungry Hearth, I join Sylvia for lunch. “Ah, you smell much better my friend,” I tease.
She reaches out and pats my cheek, “I forgot what you looked like beneath that beard of yours!”
I laugh, “Let’s see about getting that statue melted down this afternoon. Surely we can get a bit of coin out of it.” She nods in agreement. After we eat, we head out to find a smith who will treat us fairly.
-No interruptions-Generate the Jeweler…and he’s a dwarf, not surprisingly given the location. Q: does he speak kardashev EXCEPTIONAL YES
-Persuasion 13- Q: does he speak kardashev EXCEPTIONAL YES
I enter the Golden Key jewelry shop to find a long haired dwarf hunched over a small ring. Sylvia and I wait for few minutes, with her commenting on some of the small pieces on display, until he is able to assist us. His guards watch us with casual disinterest. Eventually, he looks up, “That one interests you?” He gestures towards the gold chain Sylvia was admiring in, “A fine piece to hold a valuable pendant. A trifling 22 crowns is you desire.” He suggests.
Sylvia scowls, “The gold isn’t worth that much.”
“Ah, but the craftsmanship is!” The dwarf boasts.
So I unveil the statues of Eomen triumphant and Freia in bondage, “So what offer would you make for these, considering the craftsmanship?”
Q: Will Gully Bloodstone buy them outright? Very Unlikely YES (total value is 2890 gp, his max is 1445 gp
“Blasphemous works to be sure, but finely crafted,” the dwarf muses, “And yet, there are collectors who would eagerly snatch up such pieces.” Then, eyes snapping to meet mine, “Not worshippers of the dark brother. At least, not so far as I know. But collectors of the exotic and forbidden. As he says this, Sylvia pulls out the smaller piece depicting Eomen embracing his sister. The dwarf smiles at the addition, picks it up, and then examines the set together. “1200 crowns for the set and for your discretion regarding its purchase. Tell anyone who knows about it that I melted it down if you will.” He suggests.
I glance at Sylvia, then nod my agreement. He smiles, then points out, “Of course, I do not keep such a large sum of coin at hand. He pulls out a gold and silver pendant that is a dragon’s head with two blue stones for eyes, then a set of three matching gold bracelets, each with silver filigree and six deep green stones. Then he adds the necklace that Sylvia had been examining. “These five pieces plus 500 crowns, agreed?”
(Intelligence 10 for me 18 for Sylvia)
I examine the pieces and am unsure, “That’s a lot of value for not a lot of gold.”
Sylvia grins, “But the quality is outstanding, and each of these stones? Yes, you have a deal!” She turns to me, “If we have to sell, we could take a loss on the gold, but the gems are certain value.”
I nod my agreement and we make the exchange, Sylvia fixing the dragon pendant to necklace and putting it around her neck, tucking it out of view, the bracelets going into our company pack with the coin. Then we leave the shop a good deal richer, and a pack a slight bit lighter. “Money changer.” I suggest as Sylvia groans.
“I hate not having everything I own on me!” She laments. I shrug. The money changer is across the street, so it is simple enough to find.
At the Pennies and Crowns, the two mailed guards watch us carefully as we approach the man at the counter. It looks like there is a hint of orc to him, “Greetings friends,” he says, first in Norgard then in Kardashev on seeing our blank expressions.
“We need to secure our wealth here if you have room,” I explain as the man nods. “I am Garrick Hale, this is Sylvia Tanner. We each need an account and she should have access to my coin as well, should something happen to me.
Q: Does she do the same? EXCEPTIONAL NO
The money lender nods, “My name is Glen Torbat, and yes, your money will be safe here.”
“Just the one account,” Sylvia amends. “I don’t need an account here. I’d rather have my wealth on me, thank you very much.”
“Do you still want her to have access to your funds?” Glen asks.
“Yes, one account for the pair of us then,” I hand over several pounds worth of gold coins that had been weighing us down, and exchange what I’m keeping for Norgardian coins. The money lender verifies our signatures. This time, Sylvia spells her name correctly, having learned how to do so over the last few weeks. “Do you know anyone with lodgings for rent?
Q: Does he? YES
“Talk to Nathaniel on Haymarket Street. He mentioned having a vacancy. It’s a red stone base with three timber frames above, bright yellow plaster. Easy to spot. Tell him I sent you,” He shrugs.
“Thank you,” I nod as Sylvia and I head back out onto the street.
“What’s wrong with where we’re staying now?” Sylvia asks.
“I don’t want to deal with a gang of thugs every night at dinner, and if we are going to settle in for a bit, we might as well settle in,” I reply.
Q: Share lodging? Unlikely YES
“Well, get us a room with two beds then. I don’t want to have to pay for my own room,” she suggests.
I nod my agreement, “If that’s what you want.”
Q: Does she hesitate? EXCEPTIONAL YES E: Resolution of ‘Cult of the Serpent being purged’: Intolerance of Good
“On second thought, separate rooms is better,” Sylvia reconsiders.
-Encounter-Local Character-(use townsman for the nature of the encounter-picks a fight!) Q: speak kardashev? EXCEPTIONAL YES
On our way to Haymarket Street, we run into tall, well dressed man flanked by two well armed men and attended by a bookish young man. Our eyes meet, our eyes meet and he stops short, and says something to me, scowling. “I don’t understand,” I reply.
He repeats himself in Kardashev, “What are you staring at, you moron?”
“I wasn’t staring at you, but it seems everyone in town seems to think I stare,” I shrug.
Q: Does he escalate? YES
“That’s no sort of apology!” he signals for his guards to come up alongside me. “I expect a proper apology!”
(Persuasion 3) (Perception 15) Q: Are his men veterans? YES
“I am sorry I seemed to be staring at you,” I reply. Sylvia eyes the two bodyguards and glances back at me.
Q: Is this good enough? No Way! YES
The wealthy man snorts, “Well. I’ll let you off the hook this time. But I expect proper deference in the future.” He then continues on his way.
“Who was that?” Sylvia asks after he rounds the corner.
“Oh, likely just a pretentious fop, but I really don’t want to fight in the streets if I can help it, and his men knew how to carry themselves. Not wise to tangle with them,” I shrug.
“Who was that guy?” Sylvia asks several passers by.
Q: Does she get a name? YES
“Master Bardin Harwight of the Smith’s Guild. Don’t make him mad!” an old woman warns after Sylvia finds someone who understands her question.
I sigh on hearing the news, and we head down the street, soon finding Nathanial’s building. On finding the owner, I ask, “I hear that you might have two rooms to let?”
Q: Does he have two rooms? YES
“Yes indeed!” replies the scruffy looking young man, “28 crowns per month, meals are served in the common room. Alfa will have a warm bath ready on each floor after breakfast and dinner, but it’s first come best clean you understand.” he shrugs, “but more convenient than the bath house.”
“Very good, can we see the rooms?” I ask, and Nathaniel takes us upstairs.
Q: Is this a center building? NO(rooms on 3rd and 4th floor, neither one faces the street, but the one on the 4th floor has a side alley window)
The first room is on the third floor. It is a modest, room with a window to the back alley, a double bed, several shelves and an end table. The fourth floor room has two windows, one to the back alley and one to the side. It is similarly furnished. “Well?” Nathanial asks excitedly.
“We’ll take them,” I agree and we go downstairs to sign an agreement, pay two month’s rent and for meals as well, then we accept our keys.
Q: Does Sylvia want the 4th floor? YES
“I’m taking this one!” Sylvia says as she grabs the key to the better room. I laugh and let her take it.
“Thank you Nathanial. I look forward to a good night’s rest here!” I assure him.
After getting settled into our quarters, I visit the local mercer’s and buy a lamp and some oil, parchment, ink and a quill, a solid looking chest and a decent lock, then write a letter to Calista in Summershire and Alagar in Ravenmond explaining Ever’s death. I send the letters, and Ever’s playing cards to Alagar, via caravan through the local temple. His weapons and arms would cost more to ship than they would likely be worth to Alagar.
That night, after dinner, Sylvia and I each retire to our own rooms for a nice, well deserved rest.
—
Q: Is Gully arrested? EXCEPTIONAL YES Q: convicted? NO
Over the following week, there is a general muster and many laborers and farmers are called to campaign against orcs threatening Faithstone to the West. A contingent from Oldenfalls also pass through to serve in that campaign. Additionally, there are a number of hangings in town of men and women the church convicted of worshipping Eomen. Word is that there was a widespread purge stemming from the events in Feldholm. The dwarven jeweler we sold the statues to was arrested, but then released after trial. We don’t know what happened to the idols.
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