| Game Master: System: Date: | Ken Dungeons & Dragons 5e Homebrew Campaign 29th July 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) |
Leaving the others to their own devices Iivan slunk off to meet with Silwind, reporting their findings and learning of a sit down between Silwind and Big Billy set for that evening. After being told in no uncertain terms by the Obsidian order agent that his attendance at the sit down was not optional the Drow rogue agreed to meet Silwind later and promised to bring Gunnar and some of his companions along as muscle. After catching up with Gunnar and Navarro they agreed to accompany the Drow to the sit down, though Navarro seemed to have little understanding or interest in the details or implications. With time to kill before the showdown with Billy and his gang they decided to see if they could purchase any items that might aid them – Navarro secretly hoping the strange Dwarves might have another magical cape, ideally a finer one than Balasar had gifted to his squire…
Entering the shop with some trepidation the gang were somewhat relieved to note that Balasar’s strange warnings about the brother and sister that ran it appeared unfounded, the worst they encountered was the heavy pungent smell of incense hanging in the air. Eager to find a fine magical cloak Navarro strode to the fore and began questioning the owner about their wares, his initial dissappointment on learning that Luther’s cloak was a unique item fading when offered a magical horn – the Paladin being led outside of town for a demonstration of it’s powers. Meanwhile Gunnar, mindful of the upcoming meeting with Big Billy was in the market for defensive help – finally settling on a small master crafted shield said to be made by the legendary Dwarven smith Anos. Handing his old shield to Iivan the pair shared a ribald chuckle as Navarro returned
“Finished playing with your horn?” leered the barbarian at the oblivious Paladin.
Typically Navarro disregarded his fellow’s attempts at humour and ruefully handed the horn back to the Dwarf behind the counter and instead handing over a much smaller sum of coin for a plate helmet that imbued it’s wearer with glowing eye slits and magical smoke.
“With this the foes of Helm will learn to fear my vengance” muttered the Paladin, admiring himself in a reflection as they bade their farewells and left the two Dwarves to return to whatever strange activities they preferred to pursue…
Stepping back into Yucan’s main square Gunnar noticed a pair of familar looking mono lobed goblins lurking in an alley, beckoning to them one of them sauntered forwards
“I have a gift for you” the big orc stated, rummaging in his pack
“For me?” cackled the goblin “you mean for the bosses mate, we’re just Dogcatchers us” he said gesturing to his and his companion’s injured ears as if they were a heraldic device of some kind.
Puzzled Gunnar studied the goblin more closely and realised that despite the missing ear these goblins did not appear to be Peggs and Kagey after all, curious he asked where the “bosses” might be found
“Oh, they’re doing boss things” replied the goblin vaguely
“Well, tell them I want to see them – I’ve got a present for the…bosses” before closing his pack and standing back to his full height. The goblin scampered off, engaged in animated discussion with his fellow, Gunnar caught several references to “Dog boy” and prideful “..thought I was a boss” as they drifted out of sight – Gunnar making a mental note to warn Fayd that there might be fresh trouble breweing and to be on his guard. Navarro and Iivan had decided to find and speak with Father Lucius, though as they all headed to the church Iivan signalled to Gunnar that he had grave doubts about the churchman’s motives, particularly now they’d seen the Stag Lord wearing very similar armour to that worn by the churchman beneath his robes.
Entering Hammerbeard’s keep their ears were assailed by a strange keening, and the sight of the hardy Dwarven warrior slowly banging his head against the stone wall, shaking off a feeling of deja vu Gunnar gently placed the sack containing his hair between the wall and Hammerbeard to cushion the impact – the action seeming to snap the grizzled veteran out of his strange behaviour.
“Thank fuck you’re back boys, the little cunt wants to see you” he paused “…you need to make him shut up lads…or I swear I am going to kill the little fucker myself.” he hesitated, seemingly lost in thought “…and then I’m going to find a priest and have him raised from the dead, so I can kill him some more” he finished with a grin and he waved them off towards a doorway. As they walked the path to Amberclad’s cell they noticed a number of new warnings had been put up by the garrison entreating all who passed this way to flee while they could. Eventually reaching the door and the guard, ears stuffed with torn scraps of cloth to deafen himself from the singing echoing off the walls Navarro stood aside and pointedly gestured for Iivan and Gunnar to proceed without him. Pressing on they found the small figure of Amberclad, now skyclad aside from his little umbrella, dancing round the chamber in song. Eyes firmly fixed about the waist they began the painful process of talking to the strange man, learning that the stange researcher had located the resting place of one of the orbs of power known as the Promise – but in typical fashion refusing to divulge it’s specific location without Navarro. Gunnar promised to have Luther write a song in praise of Amberclad’s wisdom and intelligence but the small man would not budge in his demands and eventually, exhausted the pair agreed to return with the paladin the next day.
Returning to Navarro the three agreed to help fulfil the Paladin’s promise to the ferryman’s spirit before facing the mind bending assault of another conversation with Amberclad. The trio set out, the Stag Lord’s corpse draped across Rocinate’s hindquarters as Navarro proudly paraded through the streets, it took a few hours to reach the river and while the others kept watch the Paladin hauled the corpse into the river
“Ferryman! As I promised, the Stag Lord is vanquished – may you and your family finally find peace” Navarro bellowed at the empty landscape, as the corpse began to sink below the water a shimmering mist formed, coalescing into the shade of the ferry man they’d encountered before. It’s thin etheral voice reached them on the breeze “Thank you Sir knight, in return I bestow upon you a gift” and with those last words the shade vanished and the river water began flowing up and around Navarro in an unnatural manner, enlosing him entirely in a shimmering layer of water before receeding and mingling back into the river flow. Navarro seemed strangely buoyed by this and even the cynical Drow found himself feeling inspired at the Paladin’s words when he bade them made all haste back to town for the meeting with Silwind.
Entering Winter’s Hall the trio found Silwind sitting alone in the busy common room of the tavern, the unassuming human beckoned the trio over and bade them sit.
“Gentleman” he nodded to Iivan and Gunnar before then turning to Navarro “ah, sir knight I’m glad you could join us – here, a gift for a fellow connoisseur” and he pulled a small carefully wrapped package from a pouch and handed it to the Paladin “the coffee you enjoyed so much”. Navarro nodded his thanks and pocketed the package.
“Thank you, why are we here then my good man?” he asked
“Well, these two are here because I said so” replied Silwind, gesturing to Iivan and Gunnar, the latter shuffling a little awkwardly under the Paladin’s confused gaze “and I assume you’re here to help your companions in case things turn….less cordial, now to business – sit sit” Silwind then questioned Iivan on his exploration of the Nearith Transport Network, making notes of how much magic was required to power up the monoliths to reach specific destinations before stressing the need to come to some understanding with Billy and his organisation to prevent open gang war ripping through the city and perhaps the continent as a whole. Needless to say the talk of war piqued Navarro’s interest again and he abandoned his casual flirting with the barmaid long enough for Silwind and Iivan to try and explain the complexities of the shifting power blocs within the criminal underworld, though it’s debatable as to how much of this the noble warrior actually took in.
“Gentleman, it’s time – let’s go” announced Silwind, making a gesture with one hand that lead to most of the tavern patrons leaping to their feet and forming a protective phalanx around them. Heading out of town the procession was joined by more armed figures slipping away from their tasks to join the growing throng as they marched out of town. Upon reaching a clearing they found Billy lounging in a chair, backed by a similarly armed rank of followers, all with bows ready for action. Nodding a greeting to them Billy waved them toward a row of chairs facing his own, Iivan cursed under his breath as a comely and familar woman at Billy’s side lifted her cloak and blew him a kiss, her hands idly toying with an ornate firearm as she did so. His discomforture seemed to amuse another of Billy’s companions, an elegant black clad female drow who seemed otherwise bored of proceedings. The two leaders then began to negotiate a way forward, however it rapidly became apparent that Billy wanted control of the town square and it’s monolith and Silwind was understandably unwilling to entertain that claim. Fearing the worse, a number of the guards on both sides began readying themselves for action, ramping up the tension focused on the two leaders. Calling on Navarro as a man of honour Billy made overtures to lure the Vilmian to his side or at least to intercede on his behalf and convince his companions to surrender the square to his faction, deriding Iivan and Gunnar as unworthy of an honourable warrior’s loyalty. Somewhat nonplussed to learn of Gunnar’s previous affiliation with pirates, albeit simplified by Billy’s account the paladin dismissed the ogre’s approach and remained staunchly loyal to his less reputable companions. This rebuffal seemed poised to trigger the violence that was simmering beneath the forced pleasantries of the sit down, the moment hanging in the warm evening air. Surprisingly, it was Billy that broke the impasse by rising to his feet and leading his forces back to town, Silwind pausing long enough to ensure no hasty young operative didn’t provoke a skirmish before leading his own group back to town, muttering that there’d be trouble down the road because of this. Bidding their farewells to Silwind after committing to help him they returned to their lodgings, warning Geoff and the others to be on alert for threats from Billy and his rouge’d henchmen before settling down for a tense nights sleep.
In the morning Iivan and Gunnar pursuaded Navarro that he needed to come with them to see Amberclad in the hope that his presence would loosen the strange man’s lips and give them some more infomation on the location of the fabled orb they sought.
“There’s no need to bother with that, I know where my master is” countered a somewhat subdued Navarro “Helm spoke to me in a dream last night” he added somewhat bashfully. Pressing on with their plan the others convinced him to accompany them regardless and the trio headed for Hammerbeard’s fort. Another encounter with Hammerbeard’s eccentric lodger left the group feeling like their brains had been through several rounds of bare knuckle combat with Big Billy, and Gunnar missing his map – the big orc resignedly letting the scholar keep it on the proviso it was returned free from unpleasant stains. Their efforts were not entirely without reward though, as while Navarro had refused to engage with Amberclad at all and the small scholar appeared in something of a jealous snit that Navarro’s God had shared infomation with him already Iivan and Gunnar learned that the Promise orb was to be found in an icey labyrinth guarded by a minotaur called Assok and a famous knight named Sir Mayton. This latter name prompting Navarro’s normal good cheer to return as if such a paragon of knightly virtue was guarding the orb then they had no need for haste and that the orb was safe enough for now. With nothing more to keep them in Yucon they agreed to set out as soon as they could gather the others and prepare for the journey ahead.