Author: John Carlson

Originally shared by John Carlson

The party has traveled up the Khelwater River, from the swampy lowlands around Vargen to the mountainous jungle, arriving finally at the landing where the road up to Xen’Khel begins. After dispatching a rampaging elephant and selling its carcass to merchants sharing their campsite, the group prepares for the trek up into the Mikhel Peaks to the site of the ruined dwarven city. Will they reach their goal? The road is a feat of ancient engineering, smooth with generous switchbacks to ease the incline, but dangerous jungle and mountains still hem it in closely as it climbs … this is wild land and anything can happen even to the last mile of the journey.

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Rumors overheard in Midmark (Session 53, 4/22/15)

The Cock & Bull Inn is very crowded after Thorfus lets slip that Talon might be visiting. While somewhat annoying, this also means that the party is able to overhear quite a few rumors about recent events in the city and surrounding areas. Here are some highlights:

– Newton has been utterly destroyed and the Church of the Ark has been unable to do anything about it – in fact, the recent and sudden retirement of Patriarch Galen has paralyzed the institution in Vargen and Midmark has been slow to respond after the last failed mission. The Brotherhood of the World Forge and Temple of Merendur are planning a joint mission before the end of the month, though. Chuq actually catches a glimpse of a depressed paladin half-heartedly training in the cathedral yard who Master Dain identifies as Galron, the only survivor of the last mission sent to rescue the town.

– Arden Grell’s estate, which has been abandoned for months (he was living in temporary apartments) is still rumored to be haunted. There were no reasonable offers on the property when the city put it up for auction after the judge’s suicide.

– A mage living near the harbor has put out word that he needs adventurers to find some rare components for his research. Interested parties should seek Boscelin Boscastle near the Flotsam & Jetsam Tavern.

– An old back-country explorer has been making the rounds of the Outlander distict’s taverns claiming that the last imperial governor secreted a large amount of gold somewhere in the Mikhelwode in the last days of the rebellion. He says that, for a price, he will share a map he’s recovered.

– Although details are hard to come by, there seems to be some kind of gang war going on between Cutter’s Mad-dogs and some new gang in Midmark. The new group is offering a cheaper alternative to the Mad-dogs’ infamous drug, Dog-froth.

– Sailors returning to Midmark report that Devil Fish have been spotted in the Vargen’s harbor and upriver on the Khelwater – something never heard of before now. Some fishermen in that other city claim to have seen three wingless dragons burst from the river and fly off towards the Mikhel Peaks (northwest) a few weeks ago and just prior to these sightings.

– Other news from Vargen: refugees have arrived from the small town of Seahill, south of Newton and Dowton. Apparently, their town has attracted the attention of some Ogres and goblins (wandering down from the Mikhel Peaks) who have destroyed the settlement. Messengers have been sent to Xenilum’Khel about the issue, although it’s not clear how much help will be forthcoming since the village is predominantly human. Furthermore, there are fainter rumors that the village of Scalle even further to the south of Vargen has come under assault.

– Travelers have been disappearing on the roads south of Midmark (between the city and village of Goldthistle). In fact, during the party’s stay, an abandoned cart full of produce on its way to market is found on the side of the road. As previously, no sign of the missing either alive or dead.

– A family was murdered in the village of Southside, just southeast of Midmark. Both parents and three children were ripped apart in their home — this after a month of attacks on livestock in the village. Locals who witnessed some of the previous attacks believe that a pack of jaguars is to blame.

– Seabreeze, on the coast south of Midmark and home to many vacation residences for the city’s elite, is offering a bounty for Atomie scalps. Atomies are sprites known for mischief and Seabreeze seems to have an infestation.

– Due east of Midmark, near the village of Kortham, animals have been turning to stone. It looks like the problem is centered on the old imperial fort of Sarthanem, but the locals are not equiped to deal with it and have appealed to the Midmark militia for help.

– Uncivilized islanders from Magwater Fen (northeast of Midmark) have been raiding nearby farms, although no deaths have been reported. This tribe seems newly arrived from deeper in the jungle.

– Walleham, just outside Midmark to the east, has lost some livestock to a wyvern raiding from Magwater Fen. The village has also had a rash of disappearances — babies stolen from homes.

– Something or someone is setting fires in Magwater Fen. An adventuring company, Archer’s Irregulars, went out and killed a Pyrolisk for the reward. Some homesteaders on the fen’s borders say that didn’t solve the problem, though.

Highlights from Talon’s Tall Tales (Session 53, 4/22/15)

After Talon rejoins the group, he spends the next couple of days while Uthruk and Chuq are training hanging around the townhouse. He doesn’t go over to the Cock & Bull Inn and is generally quieter than before his captivity, but here and there he reverts to his old form and tells tales of his exploits (new and old) to the party — basking a bit in the awe of the other hirelings. Here are some interesting tid-bits that come up during these stories:

– The exact details of how he chased the su-monsters away from Em tend to be in flux from one telling to the next

– It sounds like he and Em spent the largest chunk of their time in the jungle among the islander tribe fleeing the Dark King

– Grimtooth is waging a war on two fronts against the Black Paw and his allies and the Dark King; it is going poorly and she is losing ground

– Em was despondent when he found her and several times just laid down in the jungle and asked Talon to leave her; he begged, pleaded, cajoled, and used the story of his time with Grimtooth to keep Em from giving up completely (he clearly feels protective of her, but not too hopeful)

– Em has always insisted that Aubrey Grotecop is her child’s father, but Talon has pieced together what Alaine Grell did and thinks the issue of paternity is less clear (and also thinks Em knows this)

– Em told him about the attack on the mining camp; she said that the attackers were well-armed dwarves led by a ‘metal-man’ (a dwarf in some kind of heavy armor)

– According to the islander tribe that almost betrayed Talon and Em, the Dark Lord is an islander warrior-king who wears a shining crown and plans to conquer the coastal villages and city-states. He was willing to bargain with the islander tribe for Talon and Em because he wanted information on those settlements.