| Game Master: System: Date: | Ken Dungeons & Dragons 5e Homebrew Campaign 19th May 2022 |
| Characters: | Fayd – Half Orc Barbarian Gunnar Orcsson – Half Orc Barbarian Jaraziah Grimm – Human Cleric Iivan – Drow Rogue Balasar Aurumingis – Dragonborn Sorcerer Luther – Half Elf Bard Navarro – Half Elf Paladin Tad Hemlock – Halfling Bard (Retired) Tianzi – Half Elf Sorlock (Retired) |
Waking in the relative comfort and security of their house in Yocan the party settled down for a hearty breakfast provided by their steward. While some of the group decided to stay and rest Navarro, Luther, Grimm, Iivan and Gunnar headed into town to purchase sell their loot and purchase supplies.
Luther was haggling with the smith to exchange his leather armour for a something more durable, and trying to ignore Navarro extolling the benefits of full plate mail when he began eyeing up a bow.
“Leave that squire, it’s a dishonourable way to fight” pouted Navarro, Gunnar clutching a newly bought sheaf of arrows grinned at the bard as he passed by happy that in a fight you do what you need to, and hang the rules of fair play. Iivan split from the group to barter with Silwind at Bits and Bobs and returned having sold a number of the gems and necklaces they’d procured from the Nearith outpost the previous day. The remainder spent their coin on fresh supplies of potions and other equipment they felt might prove useful in the days to come.
As they emerged back into the main square they couldn’t help but notice an ornate carriage bearing the icon of Helm and escorted by a phalanx of mounted and heavily armoured guards clatter through the square and off towards the church. Not recognising any of the riders or their coat of arms as being from the Everwatch Knights Navarro’s initial hope that perhaps his master might have returned were somewhat dashed, not to be discouraged though he hefted his gear and called out to the others he was going to see who the newcomers were. Before the knight could demand some new service from his squire Luther announced he was going to try and earn some coin at the tavern, wanting to find Tad and see if the halfling had heard anything more of Peggz and Kagey Gunnar followed the half elf toward Winter’s Hall.
“Yes, squire await my return in yonder tavern” proclaimed Navarro before turning and heading towards the church in search of Grimm and information about these seemingly senior members of his God’s faith.
Iivan wrinkling his nose at the smells of sweat and scorching impregnating his clothes shuddered in disgust and followed Luther and Gunnar in search of a hot bath. Entering the tavern they found Tad on stage strumming a lute, waving a greeting the halfling hopped down and joined Gunnar in a quiet corner. Seeing his opportunity Luther hopped up and began playing for the few patrons sat in the common room. Gunnar and Tad conferred quietly, the halfling had seen nothing of the two goblins in Yocan since Gunnar’s last visit. Relieved the orc relaxed and shared the tale of their most recent adventures with the bard while he waited for Iivan to finish washing.
Seeing the Drow return to the common room Gunnar bade Tad farewell and headed out, finding the piping hot bath the Hall’s had prepared for him, shucking off his clothes Gunnar sunk slowly into the steaming water letting it ease the knots and bruises he’d accumulated at the outpost. Closing his eyes he took a moment to relax and just enjoy this breif moment of peace and let his head sink below the water for a moment. Feeling as good as he’d felt in a long while he leaned back, utterly relaxed
“Hello Gunnar” came an all too familiar voice from behind him
Gunnar groaned inwardly, sensing this perfect moment was about to be ruined by his erstwhile crewmates
“Hello lads” he grunted unenthusiastically slowly wiping the water from his eyes and trying to see if either Peggz or Kagey were close enough to grab, but the two goblins were far too canny to get close enough for that. In fact they seemed even more on edge than normal, flitting from shadow to shadow eyes flicking around the courtyard looking for…what?
“Where’s your dog Gunnar?” wheedled Peggz
“I thought we were mates – it took my fucking ear, look!” Kagey pointed animatedly to a heavy bandage wrapped round his head.
Smiling grimly at their obvious discomfort and fear Gunnar let their words wash over him, it was hard to follow their conversation as they seemed to finish each others sentences but Gunnar was (pardon the pun) only listening with half an ear to the goblin’s outpouring, measuring distances and weighing the odds of him being able to catch one or both of them and calling for aid before they could escape.
“You WERE trying to steal my things boys” he replied evenly, not wanting to antagonise the evil minded pair if he could avoid it
“We was just trying to have a look at it” whined Kagey
“Where’s the map Gunnar?” asked Peggz without a pause
Gunnar shrugged from his seat in the bath.
“We’ve got a problem with the map” mused Kagey
“Well, you have a problem anyway” the two goblins paused and smirked at each other
“What have you done this time?” asked Gunnar, curious despite himself as to what these goblins might consider to be more of a problem for him than Silvereye and the Red Crow knowing of his theft
“We were looking for our friend Gunnar”
“Asking round town we were”
“Someone knows you have it Orcsson”
“We migth have let it slip you see”
Gunnar waited for the pair to get to the point
“We met a guy, said he knew you”
“Large William esquire he called hisself” leered Peggz affecting what he thought might be a noble accent
“You told Big Billy about the map?” gritted Gunnar, hands gripping tight to the edge of the bathtub til the knuckles whitened a sinking feeling in his gut
“Yeah, he’s maybe talking with Silvereye a bit” grinned Kagey
“Not our fault Orcsson, we was just being friendly” cut in Peggz
“Fine fucking friends” Gunnar grunted
“We liked you Orcsson, got something else you should know too”
“Spinebreaker’s pissed at you Gunnar” giggled Peggz…or possibly Kagey.
Gunnar’s mind flashed to the female half orc assasin he’d known from the Crimson Blades, a tight knit clique or murderers within the Red Crows who handled Silvereye’s more dangerous jobs, “assasin” was probably too civilised a word for their methods but the end results were certainly the same. Feeling it was unlikely he was going to get anymore information or assistance from the two goblins Gunnar raised his hand to his mouth a blew a long piercing whistle
Visibly nervous now the two goblins suddenly both had wicked daggers in their hands and were backing away from the supine orc, eyes darting around in case Fayd exploded from behind a pillar
“Bit my fucking ear off he did!” squawked XXX
“Be seeing you Gunnar” cried Peggz over his shoulder as the pair slunk out of sight. Leaving Gunnar to quickly towel himself dry and pad back into the tavern looking for his companions. No one else seemed to have noticed the goblins, Tad and Luther were still playing on the stage. Gunnar saw Iivan and Navarro sat at a table and made his way over to join them. Flashing hand signals at the dark elf Gunnar tried to work out where they stood with Silwind and the Obsidian Collective, and whether they might be able to strike some kind of deal for protection from Billy and Silvereye.
“What does all this mean?” asked Navarro suddenly, gesturing to his companion’s flashing hand signals. The the pair were shocked, the paladin normally passed through the world blissfully unaware of most of what happened around him. Making some clumsy excuses they were able to divert his attention, Iivan signalling to Gunnar that they can’t talk here. Troubled and keen to find some course of action to protect himself Gunnar sank back sullenly and began drinking beer steadily. Eventually Luther rejoined them and they began to plan their next move. Navarro seemed to be more full of himself than usual, a condition certain to arouse Luther’s suspicions and concerns
“What’s happened?” he asked the knight bluntly
“Oh nothing squire, but it’s been a good day for us both – in fact I think I may have a surprise for you later” Navarro beamed back, raising his wine in silent salute.
“Oh Gods, what have you done?” pressed Luther, not believing for one moment that this pompus warrior’s blythe confidence was to be trusted as any guide to his own future happiness or wellbeing.
“I told you Squire, it’s a surprise” answered Navarro enigmatically.
“Enough of this” interjected Iivan “We need to see Amberclad and see what he knows about the other outposts”
Enthusiasm for this prospect seemed…lacking but eventually even Luther and Navarro agreed to accompany them. Arriving at Hammerbeard’s keep the party noticed a number of hastily scrawled arrows daubed across a number of walls, seemingly directing towards the cellar housing Amberclad. As they wandered through the halls they bumped into a distinctly unhappy looking Hammerbeard.
“Oh, it’s you…. he’s downstairs” growled the hardened Dwarf, before the group could speak again he walked off muttering that it was ther problem now. Confused but not entirely shocked the party continued down to Amberclad’s room. Luther refusing to enter and the usually bold Navarro was hovering at the back of the group and trying to remain hidden behind Fayd and Gunnar as much as he could.
What transpired within that stone chamber dear reader, will have to remain within those walls to spare the minds of the innocent who might be reading this account from the horror and nightmares the party will no doubt be suffering as a result. However, we can say in summary that Amberclad was able to locate the possible locations of other Nearith outposts, marking these on Fayd’s map. He engaged his now expected licking fetish with a number of the party and a number of their items, and seemed especially pleased with the map which had been recovered from the outpost. Iivan’s patience was seemingly boundless and at great personal cost to his own sanity was able to ascertain that Amberclad would be able to provide more information for them given time. Unfortunately, just as it seemed they might be about to make a breakthrough a miscontrued comment diverted the strange scholar’s train of thought and sweating profusely he demanded that he be left alone to contemplate a strange fiction of playing “Dragons and Slayers” with Navarro….this was enough to drive the normally brave and steadfast Paladin from the room as if chased by the fiends of some peverse hell.
Gathering back at the tavern for a meal and recount the events of the day the party sat at a large table and feasted. Each trying to shake the memories of Amberclad in their own ways.
Interrupting the conversation a small urchin handed Navarro a scrap of paper, pausing to read it breifly before shuddering in distaste and throwing the note to the floor the paladin stood, marched to the bar and poured himself a large slug of amber liquid before slamming it back in one hit. Curious, Gunnar reached down under the table and recoverd the strangely sticky note, prising apart the stiffened paper he saw another fawning message from Amberclad and let it fall from his hands. Wordlessly he moved to the bar after Navarro. A glance at the big orc absently trying to wipe his hands clean told Navarro all he needed to know, and he slid the bottle over to the barbarian with an understanding nod of his head.
At this point a bald man dressed as a priest, accompanied by Brother Jorah and some of the armed carriage guards they had all seen ealier entered the tavern. Seeing them Navarro stood and beckoned them over
“Come good sirs, join us” he called making his way back to the table
The man directed some of his escort away before approaching, the warrior women hung back and sat at a nearby table Gunnar noting she appeared to be a body guard for the newcomer. She caught his curious glance and after breifly sizing him up smiled and nodded a curt greeting from across the room, returning the nod the barbarian swiped the bottle from the bar and ambled back to the others. His mind still on the looming problems with two ogres Gunnar wasn’t paying the closest attention to the conversation but it was clear that this priest was an important man, and seemed to know an awful lot about their recent exploits – something which seemed to have angered Luther in particular. Still, this man seemed happy with them and not actively trying to kill them so Gunnar was happy to let things slide, especially when the priest intimated that perhaps a reward might be forthcoming for their discovery of the Nearith outpost. Gunnar made a note to find out from Grimm and Navarro if their church would be of any use shielding him from Big Billy and Spinebreaker’s nefarious attentions before returning his attention to the bottle and trying to enjoy the evening.