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Post by Art Teach on Apr 28, 2015 22:27:31 GMT -6
The city of Overlook rises along the eastern slope of the Stonehome Mountains. The entire city proper is surrounded by 100' high walls that stretch the in a square 3 miles on a side. 1/2 mile in the city rises 50' with a second 100' wall. 1/2 mile within this square the city rises another 50' with another 100' wall and finally the center of the city rises 50' higher with another 100' wall. The entire city looks likes a 4 tier pyramid.
The top of the pyramid is High Hall looking down upon the city it controls. The High Hall was originally the home of the Dragonlord of Overlook during the Age of Chains when Tiamat ruled the world. The building is expansive with massive doors and wide hallways.
Of your party only Fragrim has spent any significant time in Overlook, Fargrim says he was in Overlook but he obviously was too young to remember much more than the stories his grandfather told.
The Reltea family had an association with the city through a group called the ‘Elsir Consortium’ that was organized 40 years ago. Their goal was to expand their member’s individual markets to every community in the Elsir Vale and they began to develop a presence in the city … unfortunately in the aftermath of the ‘Red Hand’ invasion the Reltea's family connections to Overlook guilds have been severed. Someone from Delrin's family must have spent some time in Overlook years ago as an ancient dwarf stopped him at one point and said he was the spitting image of a human he met when he was a young dwarf fresh out of basic training. Delrin claimed to know nothing of any relatives at all, let alone any that may have stopped over in Overlook.
Overlook is made up of nine districts: Blister, Boneyard, Elftown, Forgeworks, High Hall, Nine Bells, Shantytown, Stonehammer and Tradetown. Your arrival brought you through Blister. The Blister is a rough-and-tumble section of the city, populated by mercenaries, adventuring sorts, and the usual sort of traveling folk with few if any roots. Characterized by a great number of winesinks, taverns, pleasure dens, gambling halls, and bordellos, Blister isn’t somewhere you would want to get lost. You see a surprising mix of people, Humans, Hobgoblins, Halflings and even Minotaurs all appear in large numbers in the streets with tread their way through a chaotic mix of buildings built too close to one another.
Wandering you see a variety of sights … human thugs beating a hobgoblin, a scantily clad dwarf woman calling out to you, a magician performing on one corner opposite and elderly alchemist selling cure-alls while still other prophesize the coming end of the world. All this beneath a canopy of sound … merchants hawking questionable wares amid laughter, screams and the murmur of the crowds, cries of “Thief!” the whistle of a constable, dogs barking, the hiss of cat and the sudden growls of guard drakes.
Lucky for you Alexandria leads you to clean, neat accommodations at the Mountain’s Hearth inn, the matron of which just happens to be her friend Reggen. Reggen greets Alexandria with a smile and huge dwarven hug and is quick to find rooms for you. Reggen is happy to welcome you as friends to the inn … even offering to let you stay on as guests of the house. The Mountain’s Hearth is a three-story inn that lies just inside the east gate of the city.
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Post by Art Teach on Apr 28, 2015 22:54:31 GMT -6
Securing your possessions you begin the uphill walk to the High Hall. Along the way you hear mummers of approaching war. The call to arms sounded weeks ago through out the Elsir Valley has brought warriors from every corner. Many speak of the Farstriders bringing back evidence of a orc raiding party on this side of the mountains. If this is true the rumors and worst fears of the dwarves are found to be true.
The High Hall was built to the be the mansion of the ancient red wyrm, Teraxxiss, many centuries ago. It's massive main hall is now filled with tables and benches. A dwaven stewart takes your names and places you at a bench far from the raised stage. On the stage you see ornate tables and chairs. Alexandria knows one seat waits for her on the stage.
You see one of the tables on the stage is the place of honor of the Farstriders. Lord Sommerhold sits holding court. One adventuring party after another comes to pay respects to the Lord.
Behind the tables are banners of each major adventuring party. The black banner of The Shadow's Bane, the light blue of Therin's Hand, A banner with a yellow mages hat behind a shining blade (The Mage's Blade), A banner with a glowing lamp (The Beacons of Hope), The Golden banner of the Freeriders, the purple banner of the Farstriders, and a large banner with a hammer before a mountain (the High Hammers). To this group is added a plain white banner with the name of your party (?). Everything from minotaurs to a gnome in furs with a pet racoon are gathered in the hall.
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Post by Sithramir on Apr 29, 2015 5:28:27 GMT -6
The Golden Dragons of course Oloric points out realizing we were in the need of a name.
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Post by Issarian Lockwood on Apr 29, 2015 6:20:23 GMT -6
"Well, now that we've got TWO shiny types glittering in the sun, I suppose that "The Golden Dragons" is appropriate enough. I'd been hoping for something like 'Izzy's Irregulars', but disappointment is a part of life, I guess. If we get to put a motto on there, we should go with ‘ut kazak ok wulthrung sol’, though." [dwarven for "we're only in it for the money", for those who speak it.]
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Post by @IsNotABomb on Apr 29, 2015 10:33:57 GMT -6
((OOC: Stephen, I need your G+ account name so BTT will stop having a cow. I think you might be looking at another sheet. I actually have aristocratic lifestyle paid for. XD))She made it a point to circumnavigate as much of the rabble as she could, making the trip in silence save for an interlude where she asked for her confessor, squire and standard bearer to meet with them. Upon seeing Reggen and being hugged she made it a point to lift up the dwarven woman. "Reggen, how I've missed you!" She gave her a modest spin before setting her down. She managed to set her down before that gouge caught up to her. "This is purely a social visit, however, I will have to make amends for having to tread on your benevolence. Tonight I have guests and you; old friend, will be my guest of honor." She offered a smile before heading upstairs. Within moments she was assisted in removing the nigh-insurmountable fortress of mithral platemail without so much as a hint of hesitation. "Have my heralds spread word that House Trevelyan's 'dying ember' has sparked into a brushfire. Yet again. Tonight, we feast." She of course, referred to her estates, which she maintained in honor of her family, although being part of a dying line of aristocracy meant that her feasts entailed that her admittedly small kitchen staff and servant staff often ate with her. While part of the mocking she endured because she ate with commoners, she viewed it as a sign of solidarity, and though mildly arrogant, she was quite good to her servants. Her squire was a younger man, brown hair and green eyes who took the disarming ritual without a hint of lust, in fact, being oddly clinical about the whole thing, and robing her in a light blue, white outfit of fine silk studded with precious gems and lined with gold. "Dearest Seighardt, my only wish is that upon your knighthood, you have such a perfect squire." Between the point where she was clad in armor and then her dress, the party was shown the truth. A noble born occasionally had a hangnail or a dueling scar, but Alexandria had burns, a gouge that was dressed as part of the rearming and bruising all up and down her arms--she was not of the idle rich! She dressed like most male knights, the only exception being that she wore thinner shirts in order to accommodate a corset. She prompty refastened her sword. "You have my thanks. If you can alert my staff we will have extra mouths to feed, you will have my gratitude. Confirm if Reggen will be bringing her family. I simply must have enough food for us all!"Confessor Branka was a sprightly dwarven woman with braids of mithral and the occasional strand of gold. Despite the nameless woman being an adult, there was something childish and unspoiled about her worldview, an innocence that came with being uncomfortable around anything less than a parental figure. As Sieghardt left, she approached her standard bearer. "I would very much appreciate Branka, Sieghardt and yourself taking the day for yourselves as reward for your dutiful service. Just do not be late for dinner." She said, slightly on the forceful side as she took her standard from him. He was, at most, a few years older than she, with luxuriously thick black hair and pale blue eyes, although he appeared to be on the frail side. She dismissed him before looking to Branka. "I have nothing to confess. I merely wanted to see you." Alexandria smiled before the Confessor gave a goodnatured sigh of exasperation before heading out. As they went to go check in, she sighed. She hated this part. "Party of six. Dame Commander Alexandria Marrack Cadwell Zelley Pascoe Goldsworthy Mablin Harvey Keskeys Rosewall Oates Danning Hales Kimbrell Trevelyan the Lesser." She rattled off. "Forgive me, milady. What was the sixth one again?" She paused, consulting her pedigree. "Mablin. No. Wait. Pascoe. No. Damn it all! Goldsworthy. Goldsworthy.""And the others?" "The Lady Trevelyan." She sighed. "The line is dead. They will know who I am." She motioned for the others to follow her in. "This is why I do not do introductions." She eventually grumbled while out of earshot.
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Post by Art Teach on Apr 29, 2015 22:24:23 GMT -6
OOC: Alexandria, You have a nice mansion in the city but I was not sure you would share it with a bunch of guys you just met.
BIC: The servants scrawl the name onto the plain banner and place it in the line of banners behind the main tables.
Horns blow and everyone finds a seat at thrones, chairs, or simple wooden benches. Alexandria has a comfortable chair with the advisory council. The advisory council consists of lesser noble house dwarves and non-dwarven nobles who assist with the ruling of the dwarven lands. Alexandria knows after opening remarks the council members will draw lots and each will choose a mission and adventuring party to assist them completing the missions. Some with accompany the adventurers themselves while others send champions.
An old grey but proud dwarf steps forward,"Welcome to High Hall friends. As most know I am Elder Cadrick. A those who know me can attest I don't see much point in bandying words, so I'll lay it out for you. War is upon us. A great host of orcs comes from the west. Their intention is clear. They will come through the mountains bent on slaughter. Those they spare can look forward to a short life of slavery. Overlook, and Bordin's Watch in the mountain pass, have long held fast against these raids, but out scouts say never has such an army gathered. Thus, we turn to you brave souls to help defend not only Overlook, but also all the Elsir Vale.
When the orcs arrive, we're certain they will come up through the pass but also have found other passage to the Vale. We know this because of the efforts of the Farstriders." He pauses to allow the applause to die down."They have compromised the vale. Our defenders have fought back the savages, but they are coming and fast.
We have created a plan that will require coordination of a dozen missions. Noble members of the High Council if you would draw your lots."
A servant brings a gold vase from one noble to another. Each draws a gold lot. Alexandria reaches in a opens her hand to see the gold coin with the dwarven numerals for 12. She would be the last noble to choose mission and team.
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Post by blackarrow on Apr 30, 2015 0:24:56 GMT -6
OOC: I don't suppose it's a little late to interpose on that whole "human thugs beating a hobgoblin" business? If not, Intimidate is a 21 on Delrin's check to stop and "readjust his saddle". Don't worry, he insists everyone else goes on ahead without him. He won't be more than a minute.
BIC: Delrin nods in agreement to the name, although he does look to Fargrim in confusion when Izzy proposes the motto. If Fargrim gives him the answer straight-up, he'll just shake his head, trusting that to send his message.
He then finds a bench to sit in, less from any desire to sit than a desire to avoid attracting attention, and listens to Cadrick's speech. He wasn't too used to large gatherings, since for quite a while he had mostly avoided contact with people he wasn't beating the tar out of, so he felt a slight twinge of nervousness as he became surrounded by the crowd. He tries to calm himself, but he still can't help but feel a bit anxious, so he scans the room to reassure himself that there weren't any hidden threats lurking nearby.
After all, those rafters could be hiding goblin archers. One of the members of the crowd could be a suicidal mage about to cast a fireball into the mass of people. The servants could be poisoning the food or drinks. That tall man in the cloak could be a pair of halfling assassins, one standing on the other's shoulders, about to set off a dozen pouches of alchemist's fire. Suddenly, Delrin realizes what he just thought and shakes his head in wry disappointment. Wow, you really need to get used to not watching social functions from 100 feet away and 50 feet above again.
Perception: 14. |
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Post by Sithramir on Apr 30, 2015 5:36:38 GMT -6
Malik will waits impatiently to hear the next steps. He does not react or speak up in general. He is a rock, stone faced. He is not one for formalities but is well aware of the way most knights like to take their time with traditions and naming conventions, etc so he just awaits.
Oloric will likely try to stay to the back as to not attract too much attention. His golden skin sticks out even worse in a dwarven lot due to the lack of height. He will scan the area on look out for anything unusual but as typical catches the eye of a pretty young lass instead (Rolled a 1 for Perception).
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Post by @IsNotABomb on Apr 30, 2015 6:20:17 GMT -6
Alexandria's expression was nearly comical. For an angelic warrior knight who enunciated every syllable and didn't use contractions or slang, the silent string of curses under her breath added poignancy to how unlucky the draw was. She personally wanted nothing more than to swap lots, and then her expression turned devious. "Well, well, well. Last choice. It looks like I will be getting the work none of the others have the nerve to handle--at least then I will not be complaining of boredom." Alexandria murmured after Elder Cadrick finished, just loudly enough for the others to hear ((Bluff: 20 + 4 (Cha)= 24. I suppose that means some poor bastard's gonna play right into her hand.)), taking on her usual vacant expression soon after, leading to the usual nightmare fuel as her frown turned into a broad grin. As far as she was concerned, she was hoping one of the other nobles would suddenly double-down on a matter of pride and take a harder task in order for her to properly gauge these adventurers. It wasn't that she was afraid, she just felt like gauging what she saw as a vengeful butcher along with--on a less vitriolic note--a short bearded instrument of beard (Mighty is he!), a scaly lech, a man who was evidently a former guardsman, and of course, a smart-mouthed shady sort with an oddly charming manner of speech.
She had every intention of fulfilling her word and securing them a contract, but she was also aware they were only in it for the money, so the choice assignment was the one that had the best work-to-pay ratio. Psyching everyone out in order to make sure she nabbed the unknown sort before some wiseass decided to take them onto a veritable suicide mission was all part of a carefully laid plot. Bargaining came later.
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Post by Issarian Lockwood on Apr 30, 2015 6:59:12 GMT -6
Fargrim's reaction to Izzy's motto suggestion was pretty much: facepalm/deep sigh, and "Millenia o' dwarven history t' chose from, an' tha's what ye remember, lad? Aye, but ye're a trial. Suppose it's accurate enough, though. Mulhammor give me strength." If anybody asks what it means, he explains that it's a quote from dwarven history, from an ancient tale of a mercenary troop who were offered the chance to surrender by an invading army of drow but rejected it, claiming that they'd already been paid to fight and since they were only in it for the money, surrender wasn't an option. They all died, but the mining settlement they were defending survived.
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Post by Art Teach on May 2, 2015 9:25:56 GMT -6
The oldest of the Council of Elders gains the first lot. Grand Eldar Morgoff Stonefist lumbers from his chair slowly with heavy cane pacing his steps,"My families mission will be to reinforce the nexus and seal the vents if needed. This most dangerous of missions will be that of House Stonefist and the Farstriders.
Lord Sommerhold walks to stand beside the dwarven lord and waves out to the roaring crowd. Only Alexandria and Fargrim have ever hear of the vents. These tunnels brings air and life to the massive complex of mines below the Stonehome.
Itrika Mountainhome, Olman Sledgemore, Dunia Ironheart, Elder Cadrick, High priest Durkik Forgeheart, and the rest of the Elder's take missions to Bordin's Watch, the southern an northern mines, patrol the local towns for activity. They choose the Shadow's Bane, Therin's Hand, Freeriders, The Beacons of Hope, and members of the High Hammers.
It comes down to Council Advisors. The halfling merchant Dunhurst Middled chooses the High Rollers and adventuring party composed of all halflings and the mission to protect supply runs to Bordin's Watch.
Alexandria sees her ploy has worked. They have left the easiest of all missions. The Monastery of the Sundered Chains in the mountains will need to be warned of the coming orc raiders. The mission will be to ride message to the Paladins, Monks, and Clerics of Moradin who live and train at the Monastery. She also only has one banner left. The banner of The Golden Dragons. The pay for the mission is also the lowest 1,000gp or 2,000gp in goods and services of the House Forgeheart smiths. At least it is just a "Milk Run" with nothing more an a few bandits between the Monastery and Overlook.
(Earlier that day-) Delrin drops behind the group of human thugs and convinces them to move along and leave the Hobgoblin alone. The human look to him,"What are you some goblin lover? These goblins are stinking up our city and taking good work from real people."
At the draw of bow the human quickly rushes away. Delrin pulls up the Hobgoblin.
"Thank you friend. Altok of the Red Hand will not forget your kindness." He lifts his shield from the mud and fallen helmet."I should not have explored beyond our encampment." Looking at his blade and shield you are pretty sure he could have killed the 3 thugs who had only stones, bricks, and beer muscles. Instead he was taking a beating on the ground.
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Post by Issarian Lockwood on May 2, 2015 11:58:22 GMT -6
"Ahh, the ever-popular 'message run'! Those NEVER go horribly wrong. What d'you think, orc horde or red dragon? Orc horde would be in theme, but a dragon, that'd be new!" Izzy holds up a gold piece. "My money's on a dragon. Anybody else got a bet for the wheel of doom?"
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Post by Sithramir on May 3, 2015 5:33:50 GMT -6
"An excellent chance to learn the lay of the land" Malik states. "When do we leave?"
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Post by Art Teach on May 3, 2015 9:45:01 GMT -6
A dwarf walking by smiles at Izzy,"I would take that bet and give you 10 to 1. The warning to the Monastery is merely a formality. The place is center of training of Moradin's paladins, clerics, and monks. There is nothing the warriors of the Monastery could not handle."
The business finished the meeting become a true feast.
During the feast a rotund bard from the Therin's Hand approaches Alexandria. He points her then thumbs to himself and double points to a shadowy alcove with a lusty look in his eyes. Another member of Therin's Hand is a sorcerer in red and keeps morphing from strange little man to attractive woman as you watch it drink.
A yellow robed mage approaches Malik table,"Hello, I am Perf of the Mage's Blade. If you are looking for a more exciting adventure I would happily trade our mission for yours." You hear a voice come from the sword resting on his hip,'Coward."
Sinruth approaches Delrin at the table,"I do not fully understand you. When I try to parley you attack. When I try to assist you try to have me arrested. When my soldier is attacked you defend him. You are curious man Blackarrow."
Oloric is approached by the Warlock member of the Farstriders,"I'm not sure you will ever be welcome at Old Den again after the damage you did to their roof." The pretty half-elf you remember being called Jen smiles at you.
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Post by Issarian Lockwood on May 3, 2015 14:57:20 GMT -6
Izzy smiles back at the passing dwarf and says "You're on! Ten to one says we all die horribly; I'll expect my winnings promptly on my gravestone!" and turns back to the rest of the crew.
Looking at the yellow-clad mage, he says "So, Perf, seems like you've got some dissension in the scabbard, there. What's your gig, and what's it paying?"
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