Session #107
Journal entry for the 14th of Jourelden
My last entry yesterday had us waiting for Thorel’s men to confirm that the guild master was indeed still alive. Interestingly it looked that they thought our arrival was in fact a ruse in order to distract them or otherwise make an attempt on their employer. It wasn’t – there are easier ways to create a diversion than having someone ask for confirmation that their target is still alive – but I digress.
After receiving the confirmation that Thorel was still alive and after declining an invitation to stay the remainder of the night, Thorfus explained that we had other business to attend to, he promptly wrote a note to Thorel outlining the shadow abilities of the assassin that we missed, their affiliation with the pirate Grel and obvious imperial connections.
Personally – I’m glad, getting involved in city “politics” is the reason I left home to begin with and would rather not get involved. Besides, Aunt Fel would flay me alive if she knew I was getting involved without her – she’d love this situation.
After a few more attempts to get us to stay by Thorel’s man (Xander, I believe) we finally managed to get away and try to catch up to our prisoners and Cannis. T’Suna helped us along much to its delight – though we did not find them. Instead we find the 3d longboat from the Bitter Horse that followed us and head back to the Bitter Horse only to find that the Cannis and the others were not there.
Rather than try to scour the harbour for the ship, Chuck recommended that we ask the devilfish Gronsk to locate the missing long boat.
Reluctantly I agreed to have T’Suna summon the creatures. After some banter they give direction to our missing friend to T’Suna who whisks us all there.
We find the boat just outside the harbour. Cannis and many of the sailors were unconscious and still alive, but a few sailors are missing their heads and the prisoners too.
It’s at this point that Gronsk tells us that they kept the boat safe and tell us that the dervishes went back into town to finish their job. He also knows where Grell’s base is and will give it to us if we steal a manuscript describing a sonic weapon that was designed to be used against the devilfish.
NOTE: I must ask Kalgunn about this weapon.
We don’t dwaddle and shift some personel around so that the wounded and missing boat can be rowed back to the Bitter Horse while we rush back to Thorell’s hideout to deal with the assassins- against my better judgement I tag along.
Oddly, Chuck asked one of the men to think of those sailors who lost their heads. Could he be trying to record them to his memory? I’ll ask him discreetly later – that helm of his is intriguing.
Anyways – to make a long story short – we made it back in time to help thwart the assassination attempt and dispatching him. Oddly – there was only one. The other may have had another mission or decided to wait.
I received an arrow in shoulder for my trouble and although she had a terrible shot she did have manners enough to apologize. Too bad I didn’t have a chance to speak to her more intimately – she was rather attractive.
The body of the dervish self-combusted rather spectacularly shortly after death, for reasons unclear to me. Why self-immolate lake that – makes it rather easy to know who you’re up against
Ever grateful, the guild master met with us morbidly next to his wife’s grave only to explain a rather tedious story about local politics, the Harbour Traid assassinating his wife, their drug trafficking of “dogfroth” and affiliation with the Imperials. He finally gets to the point and asks us to assassinate the other guild masters in exchange for some magical items from a dragon hoard.
Like I said – Aunt Fel would be loving this.
Thankfully – Thorfus declines and we returned to the Bitter Horse and have our things loaded. I think this Grel character weighs on him and Chuck. It seems we’re heading to Midmark with the Bitter Horse.
This morning we headed out to visit the Temple of the Ark and that of the World Forge in order to get some information about what’s been happening since the company has been in Vargen.
From what I understand, the situation has been getting worse, there’s much unrest in Vargen and Midmark and there are stories of monsters attacking towns and villages all around.
Now we’re on our way to Midmark with a mission – to steal that manuscript for those devilfishand get the location of Grel’s hideout.
I hope to get a chance to read it before we do surrender it though – I’m sure I can use it.
Evening.
We’ve crossed without issue and have docked in Midmark. Unloading nearly done and we’ll be on our way. Hopefully I can find a decent library in this town.
Very late! Been crazy with mother’s day and house guests. Not my best summary I’m afraid.
Well, I enjoyed the summary greatly — the details about Aunt Fel (who is now canon and will be used as appropriate) were a nice touch. This is worth 1350XP for Edan (150XP * (Level 5 + Level 4)). That should be enough to get him level five as magic-user, right? Fire and lightning for everyone!
I thought you would – while writing the journals I’ve started to build an interesting story around Edan and his rather odd family. Think Adams Family (movies) and you’ll have a good idea of where I’m going.
Definitely a good read.
Feeling the Starchie Boyz agenda is fading away…
But what is the Starchie Boyz agenda? From your choices, I would guess that it’s the recovery of dangerous ancient technology with the occasional foray into freeing the oppressed.
That’s a good question – we each have different goals – yet they’ve been mutually beneficial. Thorfus > re-establish his clan. Chuck > fight/thwart the Imperials and generally defend Curabel from all threats Edan > Recover and master ancient dwarven technologies for the betterment of all Cannis/Axel ? Others?
I think Alessandro Bertolucci is right — and your current mission fits this pattern. Stealing the manuscript gets you Grell and his ship engine and might also point to another piece of lost technology.
As I read the summaries – the recovery of dangerous ancient technology have mostly been some outside agents’ agenda. Even the Baldric boys only got involved because they were hired by Desric(?) to do so. That business has mostly been to lucrative to ignore. Whereas the Boys always moved of their own volition to rescue at risk people like Em, the to be assassinated Lord Mayor or captives at Merchant Haven. The Quickling menace and Waterman expedition were addressed because of our sense of right and wrong since the rewards were ill defined. Our time below Xen Khel was more about denying ancient dwarven technology from ST than acquiring wealth/power.
Look at it this way : during the Vargen times, new recruits joined because of our efforts against slavers – Orion, Belroar, Uthruk & the Mercer Mercs.
Whereas our newer members don’t seem to care about those things: Edan is about ancient lore and fancy hats, Cannis is looking for his family and Ronan most likely wants money and glory.
Also, in the most recent past, there were several instances where Thorfus could have made entirely different decisions if he was more focused on the eminence of Clan Ironhand as opposed to what was best for the free people of MidMark. Even Chuq has put the interests of the CD order aside to address the greater good.
Here’s another angle : why bother with Grell? If his slaving and imperial cooperation weren’t so high in our minds, we could simply rebrand our selves and get on with our lives. There’s only two Starchie Boyz remaining, what does the world care if they are pirating and shaving women’s heads? If we told Lord Thornton to call us Thorfus’ Thugs or Axels’ Axeblades from now own, it’ll only mean a different address on his letters to us.
All good points — although the older members of the party may feel some responsibility for Grell since they created him (channels Obi Wan: from a certain point of view).
Follow Me, And Die!, you OK with John Carlson calling you old?
Chuq will put his cards on the table in case no one asks, he wants the sonic weapon plans to use against the Devil Fish. Their reign of terror on the waves must end!!!
To that end, he will suggest to the CD order leadership in town to have Brothers train seagulls, ospreys and other marine birds to scout the waters for devil fish. A messaging system can be devised with a bell and compass style dial on board ships of a certain size and above. I’m sure the Midmark navy would appreciate the effort and offer to subsidize housing or services to the order until the current crisis is fixed.
I’ve had people telling me I’m old for a long time. I believe that I am the oldest player, as well as having the oldest character in age and playtime.
An engine that can be used on a flying contraption should not fall into the hands of either Silver Throne or the Empire.
Using the sonic weapon against the devil fish is also a good idea, but we better figure out a way to make one without the devilfish unleashing their dragon. We really need the dragon orb, then the dragon and its family would work against the devilfish.
For the dragon orb, we need to make friends with either Mermen or a fish that Chuq or Cannis can befriend.
A devil fish grasping a ball can not be that secure. Imagine, it’s a manta ray that has to swim while holding a ball. Either it’s clasped between it’s fins, fashioned like a charm on a necklace forcing it to always swim forwards or held by …. Barnier Brocket!
Once we know how it’s utilized/tranpsorted, we should be able to devise a way to neutralize it. Shadows cast underwater, don’t you know! To that end, we should check whether the Pathogen research suits are water tight. Also, they might not always keep it in range of Dragons making a snatch attempt safer.