A Cold return

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Summary

Adventure: A Cold return
GM: Jono Bean
Session: Winter 813
Night: Monday or Tuesday starting at 6:30pm
Location 39 Sackville Street Grey Lynn.
Level: High Level.
Information: Information from players for Jono.
House Rules: Quickness & Slowness, No 'B' Collages please

Chart of Seagate - Freetaun

The Party:

  • Toledo Steele played by Craig Harper: human warrior; thief; Renowned hero. Party-leader
  • Viola played by Bridget: back from the darkside but still an assassin & courtier, merely moderately good-looking or adequately stunning (so very understated for an illusionist). She is accompanied by Zephyr, her spirit guide in owl-form
  • Jaundice played by Elaine Harper: 5’8 female fire mage with killer breath; human with a bit of wolven pyromaniac
  • Grendel played by Simon White: 5’9 average build, m. human with heterochromatic eyes; Water/mind mage PACTED to water deity (a nice one). Go-to mage for Empathy
  • Michael (the adventurer) played by William: "a simple man making his way in the multiverse", human, excellent assassin, occasionally faceless solarmage. Instantly recognisable, even in a crowd; coincidentally much more sociable than that other Michael Being, although the difference is only perceivable by those who've met both.
  • Keshah played by Mike Haycock: male elf Rune mage assassin, milsci, ranger, philosopher, etc
  • Silverfoam played by Michael Parkinson: m.elf namer(ish); Navigator-Troubadour-Mechanician-Milsci. Amateur courtier (9), philosopher (8 social & material worlds), healer (8 no res.); dilettante spy (6), ranger (4 littoral), astrol (2); Scribe/mil sci

Employer & others

Irina. A charming Elven Warlock from Freetaun

Job:

Pay:

Depending on who you talk first;

  • The Coven of Warlocks of Freetaun will result in the creation of some cold & winter based items.
  • 30 Arcane rewards from the Mages of Freetown.
  • Some training may also be given.
  • The Guild has 36,000 sp for the party from Mr Toadswart as he wishes some matters resolved.

The mission

BACKGROUND: Mercenary bands are forming up north, e.g. two big Sancturary units falling in for the war effort. There are 6 or 7 reported Drow commanders with high value (500k) on their heads. Likewise, we discovered, quite a few Guild members even a few party-members, although many of these rewards are *supposedly* signing bonuses to the “agent” that hands over the talent.

The (first) employer was “The Abbot”, dressed in Brown with about 18 amulets around his neck, an earthmage in the coven of witches, on behalf of Irina & the coven. It has been prophesied that I will come here & speak to the guild; Toadswart left 3,000 gold shillings to fund the prophesy’s mission. We were nominally employed to escort our cook up north to hunt for salamander hearts [NOT organs from the standard beasts, but perhaps processed constructs, typically lasting a year or so, which are essential to activate powerful items, such as a magical forge]. The abbot advised there were Difficulties in the Viscounty of Westmarch. They think the late Toadswart’s portents have bearing on the current mission, believing it relates to be a woman (picture). The true core of our mission was to find her and deliver a small package to her.

Keshah: “Is she Alive or dead?”
Employer: “She has recently been both those.”

The mages would like to pay in Arcane points 30 per person; also training. A low rank assassin may have embarrassed us by asking enthusiastically about training in that profession. There was a ship in the harbour that will take us to Freetaun on tomorrow morning’s tide, which we agreed was suitable and then split up for research & last minute packing.

Apparently The Senators of Decay (vile specimen of the worst the can be sluiced from the Lunar empire) charmed some Drow units to work for them. A previous party killed some of the senators, but they left the most dangerous arguably alive and definitely kicking.

The Astorolgy reading

Nothing that you say will release you
Nothing that you pray would forgive you
Nothing's what your words mean to me

Something that you did will destroy me
Something that you said will stay with me
Long after you're dead and gone

If flesh could crawl, my skin would fall
From off my bones and run away from here
I feel good when things are going wrong
I only listen to the sad, sad songs

As far from the Gods, as heaven is wide
As far from the Gods, as angels can fly

If holy is as holy does
This house will burn straight down to hell
Take it's conscience with it as it falls

Nothing said could change the fact
My trust was blind, you broke the pact
If God's my witness, the Gods must be blind

If flesh could crawl, my skin would fall
From off my bones and run away from here

As far from the Gods, as heaven is wide
As far from the Gods, as angels can fly

I wish, I wish
I wish, I wish

Take it back, I dare you, take it back
No you can't, You should have thought of that
What's inside a man that goes so wrong

Choke on guilt that's far too good for you
Say one word, I'll laugh and bury you
And leave you in the place where you left me


If flesh could crawl, my skin would fall
From off my bones and run away from here

As far from the Gods, as heaven is wide
As far from the Gods, as angels can fly

I wish I could fly, as angels can fly

I wish


1st Frost: Choke on the Guild

Incidental research & packing

Viola & Silverfoam will be buying restoratives from the guild & waters of healing.
!!PARTY TO ADD OTHER SPECIFIC PURCHASES HERE. NOW ASAP!!

What about Cold weather clothing? Viola took Jaundice to her high-end tailor; and they borrowed “Golden shadows” outfits made from Aurora Borealis in exchange for Salamander hearts. They were also loaned a curious knife for cutting more AB into fabric.

Keshah, Michael, & Grendel visited the ice mages inside the ice-winter-garden orchard, arranging with a dwarf there to buy everyone cold-weather gear in exchange for LUNAR pale ale. Indeed they were given a snow-construct mammoth to carry it with.
The Dwarf: “How do I stop the beer from freezing?”
Keshah: “Keep it by the fire.”
Michael: “Drink it quickly!” [Muttering aloud:] “I never thought I’d have to tell a dwarf that”.

Suitable gifts for people up north would include Partial plate

Lord of the bats had a kranky spaz tracking down Michael, and demanded he brings back knowledge of what’s going on up north.

Toledo got a weapon spell. Then employing ale-centred research methods at an open-air table outside a decent inn, Toledo met some sailor friends (from the Revenging Whale??) heard rumours of an island heading into the bay; presumably Drow invasion wave #2 — or an extra-special heavy strike-force? Also the Sand Emperor is forming an army … maybe going to take on the Lunar empire. Toledo’s warned that there’s a 15,000 sp reward out for Grendel (probably because he’s a Rank 10-&-a-bit alchemist). Later, still drinking with his friends, the hairs on Toledo’s neck bristled as, looking up the street, he saw 3 hobbits leap out theatrically into the street & then leap back into an alley. He exited the venue by some back alleys and foiled a kidnapping attempt on Grendel, who was up a nearby tower with a spyglass to confirm that ship he’d spotted in the harbour was indeed the “Eastwind of Tycho”, The 7-mast cutter belonging Matt Tumbledown.

“The voice of Argon” ####WHAT is this? needs more details###### -- sorr need help, a paragraph seems to have disappeared
Keshah: “Does it differentiate between elves & Drow?”

A little later Michael noticed he was being tailed
“I’m a rank-4 thief, I’ll try to lose him; If not, I’m a rank-8 assassin”.

Visiting a discrete jeweller at an undisclosed, very secure location for more trade goods, Michael saw the fabled set of the Golden Green clasps of the emperor. 6 perfectly matched diamonds. They discussed the cities on which the credit would be negotiated; in the meantime he purchased some trinkets worth mere thousands.

Silverfoam portalled home via Borovia castle to change, pick up essentials, advise family he was going on mission and, obviously, alert other about the Seagate Time’s stop-press news. Since there was not time to evacuate family & dependants off-plane to the Winter Palace and also return to the guild, Plan B was to pack up & stroll without any outward sign of panic through the Great Gate to Kin-Lu ... which had just been shut down, because there had been attacks on it, apparently from the Drow. The Ct & Ctess Palatine (Kree Tajin & Anastasia) were missing, likewise Mayor I. (Leave home for a day & see what happens). After checking with the Commander of the Elven Outpost, one of the key invasion routes into Elfheim, it was deduced that the strategic attack was to prevent Erelhaine reinforcements — always one of Kree’s last lines of defence. Moreover, although the Great Gate could be reopened in 6 hours, it would take 6 days full until stabilised, during which it would be at risk and, if destroyed in that time, it would also destroy much of Borovia town. After distributing food stores between those remaining & the evacuees take to a safe-holding elsewhere (Including the mayor’s family and other possible figures of reprisal in the event of Borovia temporarily falling into wrong hands), Silverfoam returned to Seagate before dawn the next day & reported to the party-leader.

Pre-adventure jitters

Meanwhile, in the late afternoon, the party was Invited to dine with the Ambassador of the Western Kingdom at Alphonses’. It is totally apparent that Ambassador, clearly appointed for his ability in a crisis rather than any family connections, expects Grendel will work for the WK, rather than the Drow. Similar conviction was voiced over the absent Silverfoam (who apparently has a bounty even higher than the ridiculous amount on Isiel Eth).

Later Kali informed the party-leader that there was late employment of a low-level party to provide security for a meeting on the docks, Pier 16. Quicken Black (a shady “merchant” of Seagate) employed the newbies to guard the meeting between Toledo Steel and Moonshae & Raithe. The Guild rep brought along warned that the last party employed by Freetaun didn’t accede to M&R’s wishes NOT to nobble the Senators (or at least NOT the way that the party intended) even though M&R loaned them items which the party used. Looks like that party upgraded their own mission from highly dangerous to suicidal. Apparently M&R wanted to get a specific favour from the emperor, and intend using the Senator’s head or whatever, to gain that favour.

2nd Frost: Taking advice from Polite Assassins

The entire party windwalked to the piers. In the middle of an oblivious guild party (what IS the collective for bunnies?) there were two areas of invisible nothingness which Toledo addressed, welcoming Moonshay & Wraith. The bunnies are startled by the appearance of an innocent-seeming, inoffensive couple in modest attire (Illusions of innocence), but really wearing exquisite armour with a writhing maw on the front. Wearing cold-weather gear (obviously they don’t need it; it’s just a subtle warning to the party). She has a selection of etherial arrows writhing around Her head.

M&W wanted to come to an understanding: they wished to be kept in the loop on certain activities of interest “including a woman up north that we have some concern for and we do not want her disturbed; we thinks the consequences will be bad. We fear the consequences of your disturbing the person up north. The woman is busy protecting some mutual friends’ interests. She’s protecting a portal to another realm & if you disturb her she will leave. Those in the area would not be able to draw on the goddess’s power.”

Keshah defused the situation by giving Viola a gentle slap on the back of the head, and we learn more: It is a portal held by a group of priestesses (who are very good at resurrecting).

Can we find someone else to maintain the portal?
“There are some thirty thousand possible ways of solving this problem especially.” [Soul-less Drow??]
Is there a problem dealing with these priestesses?
“There are some skilled [soulless] people that could be suitable [...] Get Toledo Stele a Potion of the Blackness of Time & get him to kill the last senator”.
And how to we get such a potion?
“Go speak to the priestess of time, the Gythya of Hel, one is recommended”.
[This is known by some to be a death cult of powerful healing]

M&W confirm that it was the commander, the really perilous senator, that survived the previous party.

(following notes supplied by Grendel as the regular scribe was distracted) After finishing our discussions with M&W we sail out to the "East Wind of Tycho" as Matt maybe on board and wish to talk to us. We quickly realise that Giant is the primary language of choice with the crew and we are unfortunately lacking in ability in this regard. After is discussion with some crew in Elvish we are lead below where we are wait in a boardroom for an audience.

During this audience we learn that Matt is not onboard but they are willing to provide us with a "lift" to Freetaun in the "East Wind of Tycho" and they will tow our ship behind theirs. (a note on the size of said ship, "The East Wind of Tycho" is huge in the extreme, with a crew made up of giants, dwarves and humans and is hundreds of feet long and high). We are offered the opportunity of lowering some languages temporarily in return for gaining Giant as a functional language with the possibility of obtaining the language permanently (at some risk). We are also offered training on board the vessel during the voyage.

Kesha and Voila choose to visit an abbey as part of their training Toledo chooses to train in sailor Grendel choose to train in navigator (when not helping Kesha and Voila) Michael chooses to learn some sonnets? Folklore? Some troubadour stuff

The chance of obtaining the giant permanently requires us to have communal bad dreams, that are so real you can die from them. We decide to chance things and attempt the trial. This involves avoid ghosts, phantom steads and defeat statue copies of ourselves in a grave yard. Turns out the ghosts are giant undead rabbits, if you can get through the gates in time ad shut them, the rabbits will not enter the grave yard after you. The fight with our copies was extremely difficult, each time they successfully hit you their damage doubles so you need to taken them down as quickly as you can). They did not appear to copy one's spell casting ability.

Assorted & out-of-context quotes

Concerning the fabled set of the Golden Green clasps of the Emperor, six perfectly matched diamonds, that Michael was considering as trade goods (or perhaps loose pocket change should one need to urgently abandon Alusia?)
Keshah: “They so valuable, they don’t even mention a price”
Response: “2.7 million”
Viola: “Aren’t you’re a rank-8 merchant?”
Michael: “That IS the Rank-8 price!”

BUFFS (please add details)

From Grendel: Gtr heart rune & Willow. Runeshield 25% defence; Smite; Mind shield R 13; mult images; cold resist GREATER HEART RUNE R16 (1 TIME HEAL OF 11 END) WILLOW HEALING R7 ( WHEN TRIGGERED HEALS 3 END A PULSE FOR 9 PULSES) RUNE SHIELD R20 ( + 25% DEF +5 ARMOUR DESTROYS TO ABSORB 1 SPEC GREV) RUNE OF TRUTH R6 ( PC X 2 + 12 CAN SEE TRUE NATURE/DECEPTIONS, CANNOT LIE) SMITE R20 ( 1 OR 4 CHARGES OF D+21 SAVE FOR ALL WHEN YOU HIT)

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