| Game Master: System: Date: | Ken Dungeons & Dragons 5e Homebrew Campaign 10th August 2023 |
| Characters: | Fayd – Half Orc Barbarian (Deceased) Gunnar Orcsson – Half Orc Barbarian/Fighter Jaraziah Grimm – Human Cleric (On Hiatus) Iivan – Drow Rogue/Fighter Balasar Aurumingis – Dragonborn Sorcerer (On Hiatus) Luther Merton – Half Elf Bard/Warlock Navarro Trovatero de Vimaa – Half Elf Paladin Hamlet Wolffort- Half Elf Warlock Dorian Hammerbeard – Dwarven Cleric Sylas (nee “Tourist”/”Nick”) – Human Fighter Gregg the Guide – Human Druid Tad Hemlock – Halfling Bard (Retired) Tianzi – Half Elf Sorlock (Retired) Yorhorn – Half Elf Paladin (Retired) |
Drained both physically and mentally by their recent endeavours and the loss of both Tristan and Rodgri the party sat slumped in Winter’s Hall in Yucan, all aside from Navarro who, as was the custom of his order, was standing vigil over Rodgri’s body before his funeral ceremony. Sylas had also left to attend to some pressing business but the others were all enjoying the relative peace and quiet of the bustling tavern and the warm welcome of the townsfolk. While they relaxed a young foppish lad approached them and handed Luther a letter, it became apparent that this was Navarro’s new squire – though after the last one’s swift demise none of the Renegades seemed particularly interested in getting to know the lad and he departed to attend to Navarro instead.
Dorian meanwhile was having their fortune read by a strange old lady in a ragged cloak, keen for answers about the Blight the Dwarven Cleric asked whether they would find a cure and recived an enigmatic response that suggested they may indeed find both a cure and the elusive Dr Kleinberg but the crone was unable or unwilling to offer any further guidance on how this might be achieved.
While they ate and drank Luther mentioned an encounter he’d had with a fiercesome female warrior connected to the Legion and explained that he felt she and perhaps the Legion as a whole were not the biggest fans of the Renegades and it might be worth giving them a wide berth for the time being. Gregg shared his own dream vision where he’d seen the world ruined and Gunnar killed at the hands of Big Billy, and Luther being led in chains by what seemed to be a werewolf in a smart suit. Only Luther recognised this description as being the Gentleman in Fayd’s form and quickly tried to change the subject before the others noticed.
Eventually they were approached by their servant, and chipped in some of their gold to pay for the upkeep of their house in Yucan, Iivan then shocked everyone by picking up their tab before they all headed home to sleep.
The Renegades joined other mourners and many local dignataries who had come to pay their respect to Luther’s brother, the ceremony was a sombre, though short affair. With some reluctance Luther eventually made his way to the dias to say a few words over his brother’s grave.
“This is the second eulogy I’ve had to deliver in less than a year” he began hesitantly, scanning the faces in the crowd he met Dorian’s gaze and the Dwarf smiled encouragingly
“Loosing people hurts” the young bard continued “we have bonds, bonds of family, bonds of friendship” he paused again to compose himself “Respect and cherish those bonds, because when they’re broken it comes with pain, and no one should have to endure that pain” he stopped again, fighting back a wave of sadness for his brother and Fayd’s memory before forcing a smile “Rodgri wouldn’t want us to dwell on the past but look to the future – where we can forge new bonds to help us move on in this world”.
Seeing that his squire had finished Navarro nodded to and he and the contingent of Everwatch knights carefully lifted the coffin and carried it slowly to a freshly dug grave, lowering on hempen ropes into the grounds embrace. Hammerbeard and Father Lucius led the mourners to the graveside and watched as Luther, being led gently by Dorian moved closer to lay a wax seal bearing his family’s crest on the coffin before throwing the first shovel of dirt onto his brother’s final resting place.
With that Luther led his companions back to Winter’s Hall for the wake, several of the Everwatch Knights joined them as they drank and ate, trying to shake off the malaise of sorrow hanging heavy in the air. At one point Luther was approached by an unfamiliar looking man who introduced himself as Kevin before giving the young Bard the Lady’s condolences and seeing Luther’s confusion explained that he was the human form of Hamlet’s familiar and the Lady was the Warlock’s patron…much as the wolf was Luther’s. Luther’s shock at this revelation was quickly put at ease though when Kevin promised not to tell Hamlet what he knew of Luther’s new benefactor.
Iivan, less compassionate than many of the others eyed the crowd and noted a slender Drow lady, picking up his drink and fixing a suitably wicked leer on his face he sauntered across the room to her side
“You have business in town?” he asked
“We are the superior species” she sighed “then fools like you come along and make me doubt it”
Taken aback Iivan reassessed the woman, “You’re a Kirol…a Shadow Stalker aren’t you?” he realised
She nodded “and you are marked for death, Iivan Duskfang”
At the use of his true name Iivan checked quickly that no one else had overheard their conversation
“I see” he replied shifting his stance subtly to allow easier access to his blades
“You can’t go home DuskFang, and I must say this isn’t proving to be much of a game…”
“You want to do this now?” gritted Iivan, threat heavy in his tone
She looked him up and down, carefully set her drink down on the table and met his eyes “Yeah. We can do this now”
Large shapes loomed out of the shadows as she finished her sentence, vaguely reptillian and four long arms ending in clawed hands with vicious talons. Iivan began to push himself away from the table “this is hardly the time or the place” he began, before woman’s arm flashed out from under her cloak. Arching his back the nimble Rogue managed to duck below her strike, his sharp eyes catching the glint of a finger blade as it passed less than an inch from his face. Up on his feet Iivan offered his assailant an eloborate bow before dashing through the crowd. Spotting the hulking form of Gunnar he slipped through the mourners to his side, finding Gunnar and Dorian trying to comfort Luther….the Barbarian awkwardly patting the Bard’s back and looking at Dorian pleadingly to save him from the awkwardness. Iivan’s arrival offered the Half Orc a way out of his prediciment, and even the Drow’s vague warning that they needed to get out of town immediatley didn’t detract from his relief.
Luther had recovered enough to perform for the Hall, his music bringing tears to the eyes of most of the mourners before he, Dorian and Gunnar found a secluded spot to talk, Gunnar passing on Iivan’s warning that they might need to leave sooner than planned and explaining why the Drow had left to buy supplies for the journey. The others also followed the Rogue’s lead while Dorian and Gunnar sat with Luther and helped the Bard drown his sorrows til the night’s end.
In the morning the party gathered, some with quite sore heads from the previous night’s wake and gathered by the monolith to teleport to Coatlan, yet as they flew through the strange non space between monoliths something seemed to go wrong and they found themselves ejected from the Nearith network and dumped unceremoniously into the wilderness.