Post by hubertbartels on Nov 5, 2017 15:06:47 GMT -5
Returning to Torch, the party stopped at Iven's Livery Stable where they got the message that Dolga Feddart, one of the councilors of Torch, wished to talk to them. The party headed across the small town to the Town Hall where Dolga was shuffling papers. She greeted them and asked how their investigations of the dwarven diggings went.
Upon being told of the buried research area, she decided to have Torch send people to secure the area and stop any other things from moving in like the grell and goblins did. It's a good thing that the Technic League squad have taken their tax earnings and returned to Silvermount. Dolga added the party should go talk to Father Joram at the Church of Brigh - he's got some disturbing information from Meyanda.
Dolga then called in Eramus Cutler and Aromil Turningleaf from another room. She said that Eramus was looking into the disappearance of his uncle, Barnaby Cutler. The party should talk to him. The party told Eramus how his uncle reported finding the wreck of the research area and mammets to Dr. Brendan Renik and how Renik used that information to become invincible demi-gods, in search of a fabled Extinction Wave Device, able to kill everything for miles around. Dr. Barnaby Cutler disappeared thereafter.
Quincy Logan and Valder Arnhold left the party that afternoon, headed south to verify some stories as to the possible location of the fabled device. The party asked Eramus and Turningleaf to join them.
Dolga also mention talking to Master Squee, the caravan master headed towards Scrapwall.
Leaving the dwarven forgemaster, the party headed over to the Temple of Brigh. Father Joram welcomed them and said that while Meyanda was currently in hiberation, he had news. He is very concerned because Meyanda was granted spells from something - some one - calling itself "Hellion". This being - demi-god - creature or whatever is gathering power and people behind it in Scrapwall. Father Joram is very concerned that Hellion might send more people to Torch to gain more energy. He and the other town councilors want the party to find out what is happening in Scrapwall and if there is any danger to Torch. They are willing to pay 8,000 gp to the party.
In addition, on a more personal level, Father Joram wants the party to look for a Dinvaya in Scrapwall. She went to the ruins to hide from the Technic League - and now, it is safe for her to come out again. He has a letter for her that the party is supposed to deliver. As a reward, he is giving the party a Wand of Healing. [ 7 charges, 2d4+2 points of damage healed, 1 charge at a time, recharges 1d6 per day.]
As the sun was setting, the party met with Master Squee at Iven's Livery Stable. The ratfolk, standing all of 3'6", was arguing with Iven about buying feed. He was leaving in the morning with 8 wagons, bound for Chitterhome and would be glad of the additional company.
Early the next morning, the caravan pulled out of Torch. Though out the day, it travelled north towards First Blade's Path, leaving the valley in which Torch lay, behind. The next day, it began heading east, across the dry, dusty plains, unmarked by any features other than the mysterious straight line of the First Blade's Path.
Each resting place or camp site along the way, the ratfolk of the caravan would busy themselves in improving the roadway - in this way, the road and the ease of traveling would be bettered for all.
On the sixth, the wagons began descending to the Sellen River. The reed and salt tamarisk choked water marked the boundaries between the Black Horse tribes and the xenophobic, hostile Ghost Wolves. After fording the shallow river, Master Squee warned that they needed to be on the watch for raiders.
On the eastern bank of the river, there was a broad road running north-south. It was used by crusaders and merchants. They had constructed forts overlooking the river to protect the traffic moving on the road. The caravan stopped every night at one or another of these forts.
On the third day after crossing the river, while crossing a wadi running into the Sellen River, the caravan was attacked by Ghost Wolves. They rose out of the reeds lining the sides of the road and threw themselves on the drivers and horses. The party jumped up and fought back. Once their leader, a young Ghost Wolf trying to make a reputation for himself, was slain, the rest of the Ghost Wolves melted back into the reeds.
Three days later, around mid-afternoon, the wagons slowed to a stop. Master Squee hopped down and pointed to a fort on a bluff. That is Aldronard's Grave, the closest fort to Scrapwall and where we part ways, he said. He added that if they needed help from ratfolk, the party should mention Master Squee's name.
While the party climbed the hill to the fort, the caravan slowly moved north.
Aldronard's Grave had a bad reputation, Master Squee mentioned. People there were unlucky and the chapel was supposed to be haunted. The party could see it for themselves as they approached the weather-beaten gate. Faint tendrils of black smoke rose in the air.
The two guards in full-face helmets tried to warn them off, saying that the fort had been struck with plague. But Eramus answered that they could help remove disease. The guards then came down to let the party enter.
Everyone in the party was suspicious of the guards - they wore slovenly leather armor and had full-face helms on and talking with a strange manner. So when the gate crashed down, splitting the party, they were ready.
Obin, Eramus, Astrovel and Grigoro were on the inside when the gate closed and the guards attacked. More of the enemy looked up from their gambling. They were horribly disfigured and scarred - cutting away much of their lips so they always appeared to be smiling. Their leader, a grizzled giant of a man that had cut off his hand and grafted a handaxe in its place, rose.
Astrovel ran ahead and blasted the gamblers while Obin and the others dropped the first two. Then while the wizard tried to avoid getting killed - the others came up to finish off the Smilers and their leader.
Looking around, the party noticed the burned out stable, the rubble of the keep and the burnt remains of wagons and tents in the fort's yard. Then they heard thumping from the base of the watchtower. Breaking open the door, they found Captain Anadelen Kraklos and 3 of his men, the only survivors of a group of Saranrae paladins that had been sent to refurbish the fort.
They were very happy to see the party, mentioning how the Smilers would cut the throats of their fellow soldiers and drag them out to eat them.
That night, Captain Kraklos helped fill in the party on the situation in Scrapwall. A new gang, the Lords of Rust, has been rising to power - smaller gangs like the Smilers are looking for other places to hide out. The Smilers, under their leader, Marrow, a hobgoblin necromancer, decided to look in Aldonard's Grave as a new site. If the party wanted to go into Scrapwall - they needed to make their reputation - scrapworthyness to get anywhere.
The fact that the chapel was haunted came up. Captain Kraklos mentioned that a paladin, named Aldonard, threw himself from the watchtower after hearing that his loved, Justina, had been killed. This was in the second crusade. Now, he haunts the chapel, asking for a sign of forgiveness.
The party decide to go have a look. At night fall, the ghost manifested, screaming about Justina. Obin finally convinced the ghost that Justina sent a message that he was forgiven. The ghost thanked the party and disappeared. Apparently, over the years, the paladins had never thought of lying to the ghost. The chapel filled with a warm glow, healing any wounds and curing any effects before fading - a sign of Saranrae's approval and the ghost's thanks.
In the morning, the party would go down to the gates of Scrapwall.
Upon being told of the buried research area, she decided to have Torch send people to secure the area and stop any other things from moving in like the grell and goblins did. It's a good thing that the Technic League squad have taken their tax earnings and returned to Silvermount. Dolga added the party should go talk to Father Joram at the Church of Brigh - he's got some disturbing information from Meyanda.
Dolga then called in Eramus Cutler and Aromil Turningleaf from another room. She said that Eramus was looking into the disappearance of his uncle, Barnaby Cutler. The party should talk to him. The party told Eramus how his uncle reported finding the wreck of the research area and mammets to Dr. Brendan Renik and how Renik used that information to become invincible demi-gods, in search of a fabled Extinction Wave Device, able to kill everything for miles around. Dr. Barnaby Cutler disappeared thereafter.
Quincy Logan and Valder Arnhold left the party that afternoon, headed south to verify some stories as to the possible location of the fabled device. The party asked Eramus and Turningleaf to join them.
Dolga also mention talking to Master Squee, the caravan master headed towards Scrapwall.
Leaving the dwarven forgemaster, the party headed over to the Temple of Brigh. Father Joram welcomed them and said that while Meyanda was currently in hiberation, he had news. He is very concerned because Meyanda was granted spells from something - some one - calling itself "Hellion". This being - demi-god - creature or whatever is gathering power and people behind it in Scrapwall. Father Joram is very concerned that Hellion might send more people to Torch to gain more energy. He and the other town councilors want the party to find out what is happening in Scrapwall and if there is any danger to Torch. They are willing to pay 8,000 gp to the party.
In addition, on a more personal level, Father Joram wants the party to look for a Dinvaya in Scrapwall. She went to the ruins to hide from the Technic League - and now, it is safe for her to come out again. He has a letter for her that the party is supposed to deliver. As a reward, he is giving the party a Wand of Healing. [ 7 charges, 2d4+2 points of damage healed, 1 charge at a time, recharges 1d6 per day.]
As the sun was setting, the party met with Master Squee at Iven's Livery Stable. The ratfolk, standing all of 3'6", was arguing with Iven about buying feed. He was leaving in the morning with 8 wagons, bound for Chitterhome and would be glad of the additional company.
Early the next morning, the caravan pulled out of Torch. Though out the day, it travelled north towards First Blade's Path, leaving the valley in which Torch lay, behind. The next day, it began heading east, across the dry, dusty plains, unmarked by any features other than the mysterious straight line of the First Blade's Path.
Each resting place or camp site along the way, the ratfolk of the caravan would busy themselves in improving the roadway - in this way, the road and the ease of traveling would be bettered for all.
On the sixth, the wagons began descending to the Sellen River. The reed and salt tamarisk choked water marked the boundaries between the Black Horse tribes and the xenophobic, hostile Ghost Wolves. After fording the shallow river, Master Squee warned that they needed to be on the watch for raiders.
On the eastern bank of the river, there was a broad road running north-south. It was used by crusaders and merchants. They had constructed forts overlooking the river to protect the traffic moving on the road. The caravan stopped every night at one or another of these forts.
On the third day after crossing the river, while crossing a wadi running into the Sellen River, the caravan was attacked by Ghost Wolves. They rose out of the reeds lining the sides of the road and threw themselves on the drivers and horses. The party jumped up and fought back. Once their leader, a young Ghost Wolf trying to make a reputation for himself, was slain, the rest of the Ghost Wolves melted back into the reeds.
Three days later, around mid-afternoon, the wagons slowed to a stop. Master Squee hopped down and pointed to a fort on a bluff. That is Aldronard's Grave, the closest fort to Scrapwall and where we part ways, he said. He added that if they needed help from ratfolk, the party should mention Master Squee's name.
While the party climbed the hill to the fort, the caravan slowly moved north.
Aldronard's Grave had a bad reputation, Master Squee mentioned. People there were unlucky and the chapel was supposed to be haunted. The party could see it for themselves as they approached the weather-beaten gate. Faint tendrils of black smoke rose in the air.
The two guards in full-face helmets tried to warn them off, saying that the fort had been struck with plague. But Eramus answered that they could help remove disease. The guards then came down to let the party enter.
Everyone in the party was suspicious of the guards - they wore slovenly leather armor and had full-face helms on and talking with a strange manner. So when the gate crashed down, splitting the party, they were ready.
Obin, Eramus, Astrovel and Grigoro were on the inside when the gate closed and the guards attacked. More of the enemy looked up from their gambling. They were horribly disfigured and scarred - cutting away much of their lips so they always appeared to be smiling. Their leader, a grizzled giant of a man that had cut off his hand and grafted a handaxe in its place, rose.
Astrovel ran ahead and blasted the gamblers while Obin and the others dropped the first two. Then while the wizard tried to avoid getting killed - the others came up to finish off the Smilers and their leader.
Looking around, the party noticed the burned out stable, the rubble of the keep and the burnt remains of wagons and tents in the fort's yard. Then they heard thumping from the base of the watchtower. Breaking open the door, they found Captain Anadelen Kraklos and 3 of his men, the only survivors of a group of Saranrae paladins that had been sent to refurbish the fort.
They were very happy to see the party, mentioning how the Smilers would cut the throats of their fellow soldiers and drag them out to eat them.
That night, Captain Kraklos helped fill in the party on the situation in Scrapwall. A new gang, the Lords of Rust, has been rising to power - smaller gangs like the Smilers are looking for other places to hide out. The Smilers, under their leader, Marrow, a hobgoblin necromancer, decided to look in Aldonard's Grave as a new site. If the party wanted to go into Scrapwall - they needed to make their reputation - scrapworthyness to get anywhere.
The fact that the chapel was haunted came up. Captain Kraklos mentioned that a paladin, named Aldonard, threw himself from the watchtower after hearing that his loved, Justina, had been killed. This was in the second crusade. Now, he haunts the chapel, asking for a sign of forgiveness.
The party decide to go have a look. At night fall, the ghost manifested, screaming about Justina. Obin finally convinced the ghost that Justina sent a message that he was forgiven. The ghost thanked the party and disappeared. Apparently, over the years, the paladins had never thought of lying to the ghost. The chapel filled with a warm glow, healing any wounds and curing any effects before fading - a sign of Saranrae's approval and the ghost's thanks.
In the morning, the party would go down to the gates of Scrapwall.