The Northern Frontier - Fort Tulder (IC)

[Another_Poet]

Rovard thanks Jerald for standing watch on the wall and asks him to report any ghostly activity to him immediately.

He also asks everyone to keep their curse a secret from the Primate and the soldiers. He makes sure to let the soldiers know that "We saw what looked like a ghost drifting over the plains from the west last time we were out. I don't know where it was going but be sure to be on guard, and maybe take holy water with you on your patrols."

He doesn't want any "innocent" soldiers to get killed by a surprise ghost atack, after all.

He then deals with the bodies. Both came into the fort wrapped in coverings along with a lot of other loot, so he hopes no one figured out they had corpses with them. He goes to the table in Jack's room where the druid corpse is, and lies the wrapped-up dead adventurer next to it.

He takes a long time studying both bodies. He wants to memorise what they're wearing: the colours and style of the clothing, if it's still discernible, or at least the pattern of the cloth if not. He notes if either of them wear belts, hats, sandals/softshoes/boots, jewellery, etc. If the hair is intact he notes hair style. If the skin is naturally mummified (i.e. dry rather than rotten) he notes any tattoos or markings. Finally he measures the height of each body and then marks it out on a vertical stick so he can see how tall they would be.

He feels confident that, if either of their ghosts comes for him, he will at least recognise whose it is.

edit: Lastly, he spends a few minutes besides Jack's corpse laid out on the bed, then annoints it with oil and says a prayer and will take it out for burial.

[Morbius]

Milo enters the fort leading the mule that carries Jack’s body, he inform the other adventurers on the last stop and asks around if he had any know family or will or anything similar.
Milo gets some money from the adventurer’s fund to make a special funeral for Jack (tell me later how much max, I will deduct directly from my part of the loot) and he insists that the tombstone reads: “Jack, a Cocky, loudmouthed paladin, and a great man that would lay down his life for a friend” After attending to jack’s funeral he joins the others to drink heavily on the Last stop and talk about the little time he spent with the group.

Later the groups as usual squabble over the loot and Milo talks to them about selling the very expensive magic item that he would get for more simple and useful items.

Milo approaches Lars and Thorik and after returning Lars’ wand relays to them about the curse of the Obad Hai Shrine, that they were confronted by a dwarf that claimed to be some sort of guardian to the tomb and that the ghosts would start to go after all those who removed items from the shrine (and that includes Thorik), he said that we were also safe in the Fort as it has ‘hallowed ground’ and that the only way to get rid of the curse was to return ALL items, what Milo nor any of the others intend to do, so Milo asks for them to use the newly acquired books (that Milo hopes that Lars may gain as a payment for using his wand) to find a way to deal with the ghosts. He says that the most of the others decided to wait one week in the fort to think about our next move, so they had that time to find a solution

“I am sorry for placing this weight on your shoulders Lars, but I don’t have anyone else to turn to, returning these items would be very difficult, we already sold some… and we also got another now, now if you excuse me, I need to do what I can prepare myself. Oh yeah, apparently Jack brought one of the corpses of the ghosts with him when we 1st set foot on the curse place, perhaps that might help you”

Milo considers selling his ring, he goes to several stores looking for special items and wonders what he should do, one powerful single function item or being prepared for anything that might come from the frontier….

After that Milo looks for Jan Osborn and asks him to train his dog, Milo will use whatever time he has when he is not helping Jerald with the bugs to help Jan train dog meat, so that perhaps it may take less time.

The he gets the dagger and ask around about one ‘Morgan Seafood’, specially to Isethe the blacksmith
“Hello fellow Halfling, would you have know one Morgan Seafood? Probably a wizard of sorts that disappeared in the frontier?”

[Kyouhen]

A thought occurs to Jerald and he shares it with Rovard at the earliest opportunity.

"Rovard, we know that these spirits are out for the items we took, correct? And they are not likely to harm the soldiers out on patrol unless it would be to attack us. So what if we gave one of the soldiers on patrol the staff, or any other object that was clearly a possession of the druids? In the case of the staff we could tell them that we found strange ghosts wandering around and feel a magic weapon would allow them to better defend themselves. When the ghosts attack we either listen to what the survivors say or investigate the bodies to see what we can learn of their combat abilities. The best part of all this is that Harel will eventually come and return whatever item we give the guards to the tomb. We would be without use of the item for a period of time, but we would be able to easily retrieve it on our next visit."

[Another_Poet]

"Hmm, I admire your shrewd reasoning friend Jerald. But even I am reluctant to send soldiers to a potential suicide just to observe enemy tactics." He thinks, and reveals that he is still considering it however. "But a question - could the soldiers tell that the staff is keyed to you? If so they would know it is nothing but a stick in their hands, and useless to them."

He ponders. "If there are blank pages in one of the books We could cut squares from the druid corpse's robe and offer them to a soldier for wiping paper. I'm sure they'd appreciate a break from oak leaves and smooth sticks. That ought to get the ghosts quite angry..."

He shakes his head. "Still, we could get a man killed. It seems wrong."

Then he snaps his fingers. "But we do have some monsters we could set free!"


We could prepare a letter to Mae'le on one of the blank pages cloth squares and ask the kobold to deliver it. The letter could ask for a meeting at the dryad circle at the next full moon. Either the kobolds would get slaughtered by ghosts or else we get a meeting. Either way it benefits us.

edit: the books are from the adventurer, not the druids, so I've changed which item we should use above

[Kyouhen]

Jerald considers Rovard's plan for a moment.

"Yes, yes that would work quite well. And it would surely avoid bringing about any threats from the primate... I must ask though, how would we track the kobold's movement? If the ghosts reach him first we would surely want to examine the body."

[Another_Poet]

"Well, I suspect that if any kobolds survive and meet with us, we can hear the details from them. We can make it sweeter for them by promising to release the second kobold at the meeting, if they show up. It's purely to talk, not to fight. If they've been plagued by ghosts for a week or two then it should be pretty obvious by their, er, appearance.... and numbers."

He chuckles.

"If no one shows up at the meeting, it won't really tell us whether they're dead or just afraid. But we could always take the goblin to the temple and offer him his freedom in exchange for one day of helping us loot it. We'll make sure to give him a "tip" before we let him loose... the minotaur will have a new problem to deal with, ho ho!"

[Kyouhen]

"I must say Rovard, you have quite a mind for turning a hindrance for us into an advantage over our enemies. Perhaps we would be better off finding a way to protect ourselves from the curse as opposed to removing it from the tomb. It would surely be a shame if we got captured and our captors decided to relieve me of my staff, wouldn't it?" Jerald grins mischievously.

[Another_Poet]

"Haha, I like the way you think Jerald... wouldn't you worry that they might not simply rob you though? I'd feel horrible if you were taken captive... and Milo would surely not let go of a single silver piece to ransom one of us."

[Talvara]

Thorik shakes his head as he hears of Jacks demise, "He was a good man... damnit..." The dwarf swigs some ale. "'e will be missed, I'd be 'onoured to burry the man... Jack... Damnit"...

After listening some more to Milo, Thorik facepalms as he learns of the curse that was awakened. "I'll try an find Lars tomorow, Research is more 'ís thing, I'll offer me help, I sure 'ope we can find a peacefull sollution... t'night we drink in memory o our lost comrads an friends tough." The dwarf pauzes a moment and looks in tought, "you lads 'avn't mocked tha dead 'ave ya?" Thorik sighs as he recalls rovards ever diplomatic stance.

(Thorik would like to make an aid another check to help lars in his research on the curse. (knowlege religion is the only thing he could do)Tough its also up to lars if he wants help or not or if he wants to research the matter at all)

[Kyouhen]

"I never meant I was willing to make myself bait. I'm just saying that if we could protect ourselves from the curse without actually destroying it, if each of us kept some small object from the tomb in our possession at all times it could be handy should we ever be taken captive to find our captors mysteriously die off. Perhaps we could take the fingers from the skeleton and fashion something that would appear to be valuable charms? Though I would hate to anger the spirits more than we already have, it would be quite a useful item for defending ourselves."

[thisisaspace]

“I am sorry for placing this weight on your shoulders Lars, but I don’t have anyone else to turn to, returning these items would be very difficult, we already sold some… and we also got another now, now if you excuse me, I need to do what I can prepare myself. Oh yeah, apparently Jack brought one of the corpses of the ghosts with him when we 1st set foot on the curse place, perhaps that might help you”"Well well, Glad to see that my advice on prioritizing reconnaissance over treasure hunting are disregarded so easily. I would be upset if this were not your own lives you're risking. Nevertheless, these tomes are quite a find. I'll do what I can, friend, but I suspect it would be difficult with only your descriptions to go on. Why don't you show me to the corpse you found, and tell me everything you know of these spirits."

((So I don't put all my eggs in one basket, I've chosen to roll the knowledge rolls all seperately. Here (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2076760/) are the results. Don't forget to add a +4 to the knowledge rolls from the books, because I had.))

[Another_Poet]

"I never meant I was willing to make myself bait. I'm just saying that if we could protect ourselves from the curse without actually destroying it, if each of us kept some small object from the tomb in our possession at all times it could be handy should we ever be taken captive to find our captors mysteriously die off. Perhaps we could take the fingers from the skeleton and fashion something that would appear to be valuable charms? Though I would hate to anger the spirits more than we already have, it would be quite a useful item for defending ourselves."

"Ah, I see. I'm sure tha can be done. I'll get some fingers."

Rovard will take 10 of the 30 finger bones from the druid corpse and work on turning them into decorative talismans, each with religious or arcane significance.

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]
[roll5]
[roll6]
[roll7]
[roll8]
[roll9]

Rovard will do this in his spare time. The acid and any other expedition preparations are higher priority.

nudge @ Talvara: ((Please roll your knowledge religion, it's the one we need the most, and add the +4 from the books. Also if you aiding Lars, he's made his rolls so make yours as well.))

((Nice, it looks like I made 6 of the checks... this should go nicely.))

[Talvara]

Aid Another Knowlege(religion)[1d20+4], ((space, let me know if you want to use this roll.)) Thorik wont force his help, but is more then willing to help lars with his research.

[Talvara]

((sorry about the double post >.< I mixed up the roll systems of the forum and maptools))

Aid another Knowlege(religion) [roll0]

((ARGH!... damn you 60 second interval... Im terribly sorry.))

[Talvara]

((Once more into the fray!)) Aid another, Knowledge(religion) check[roll0] ((sorry for the spam guys T.T))

[Another_Poet]

((Nice!!)((Nice!!)

[thisisaspace]

((a +2 never hurts anyone, unless it's an attack roll. Also, isn't it typical for the aid another roll to be higher than the real roll?))
Lars will be honoured to work with Thorik.

When Lars is asked if he would take the books as payment for the use of his wand:
"Sure, I can afford to take the books as payment and reimburse the difference in value, but think about it. I would not likely to take them with me on adventures, and I wouldn't be so unreasonable to bogart them for myself. So essentially, they're staying at the fort at almost all times and everyone can use them, meaning there's no point in me buying them if you were planning to put them in the funds anyway."

[Morbius]

"Well if you two put it that way..., very well the books are now part of the 'adventurers fund' and may be used by anyone. As I found most of the items I was looking for here I will end up selling my ring so I can pay you for what me and Jack spent, also I am tired of living of bread crumbs.

Also Rovard, don't do anything to the druid's bones until we get an answer from Lars, maybe their defeat is tied to their bodies, if you start to send away small pieces of it we may find difficulty to find them again "

((plus as those were craft checks they are likely to take a while but still wait to hear what max says they found out))

[Another_Poet]

Rovard quickly tucks his whittling knife behind his back and clears his throat, a guilty look on his face.

"What? Do something with the bones? I wouldn't--" he stops, and looks accusingly at Jerald. "Loudmouth."

As he sheathes the knife he mumbles, "Well, I've been saving the dust..."

[Kyouhen]

Jerald looks at Rovard in shock.

"Why, what ever made you think I would say such a thing! I am deeply hurt by your lack of trust Rovard. Deeply hurt indeed."

Jerald looks down at Milo and continues "Milo, perhaps ending the curse would be a poor choice of action. Rovard and I have devised a way to use it to our advantage against our enemies in case we should ever be captured or robbed. If you could find a way to protect ourselves from the curse as opposed to stopping it entirely it would be a great benefit for everyone. In fact... Would you perhaps allow us to use that ring you claimed for some experiments? Harel said his job was to return any items that are taken from the tomb, so it really isn't as if we couldn't just go back and take it again."

[Maxymiuk]

Lars's research:

((I'm assuming that he was told about everything - the comments the dwarf made about the curse, the fleeting aura Palo spotted, etc.))

The books are a big help here. Not even so much their original contents, as the numerous notes left in the margin left by the previous owner(s?). Whoever he was, he seems to have spent a fair amount of time exploring the Frontier and studying what he encountered.

In short, it seems that the curse affected everyone who ventured into the tomb, but it has no chance of spreading beyond that group.

More precisely, the people entering the tomb were "tagged" by the wards placed on it. In itself, this effect is harmless, and can even be beneficial with further modifications - say you'd want a given place to "remember" you as someone authorised to enter.

However, as the group broke into the coffins and removed items interred there (including bodies!), this caused the tomb's curse to activate and it's now using the tags to identify the targets it's supposed to go after. to put it yet another way, the "ghosts" are effectively keyed to you, as one would otherwise key to a magical item.

You should be safe in the fort - not only is the place warded against intrusions of spiritual nature, but it at least partially blocks the tag's connection, rendering you invisible to the ghosts.

There are two obvious ways to break the curse. One is to return the items. The other is to die. If there's any escape clauses, neither the author, nor the owner of the books knew any.


The dagger

Yselle has what can be described as a near-breakdown when she sees the dagger. She practically demands where Milo has found it, and in what circumstances.

Upon hearing his story, she calms down, if only a bit. She explains that this dagger was the masterwork she made to be recognized as a full-fledged blacksmith after her journeyman period. It was also a gift to her younger brother, Ydeon, who decided he wanted a bit of adventure in his life and set off in the direction of the Frontier.

That was over 20 years ago.

"I came looking for him eventually, after there was no word for five years. Always had to pull him out of trouble, I did," she sighs. "Only I never did find him. All I got was wild tales... and I mean, really wild. Supposedly he pacified a tribe of goblins with nary a death, got involved in murdering a priest of Ehlonna - as if!" she snorts. "Last anyone saw him was in some town a bit to the south. The people he was traveling with got involved in some dispute between the churches of Heironeous and Cuthbert. Then they supposedly left for Kaitleen's Crossing and there's been no news since. Until now."

She offers to purchase the dagger for 300gp and promises further rewards for any news of her brother's fate.

"He was what they call a sorcerer. They always have a wild streak. About your height, brown hair, black eyes, sharp nose. Had this most annoying raven ever as a familiar. The thing just wouldn't shut up, unless you threatened it with a hot poker."

In regards to the corpse from the tomb: from what she recalls, the group his brother traveled with included three humans, a half-elf and a dwarf, though she only ever found out the name of their leader - Caedmon Thaal.

[Another_Poet]

"As it turns out," Rovard says sadly, "Lars says the curse can't be passed to our enemies. I'll send the kobold messenger with a normal letter.... *sigh*"

Rovard composes the letter in both Common and (with Lars' help) in Draconian. On normal vellum, of course.

The letter:

To Mae'le

I hope this finds you in good health and that you are free from goblin tyranny.

I have learned much about your people from the bearer of this message. Thank you for keeping your word and sending him with us. I trust you will find he is unharmed and was treated well.

I feel badly about the conflicts between our people and about the rash actions of earlier explorers. It is my opinion that both kobolds and explorers have more cause to hate the bull-man and his goblins than to hate each other.

I would like to meet with you in person to negotiate truce between our people and talk of how best to fight the bull-man.

There is a circle of wooden statues in the shape of dryads just south of Fyonole Castle. You may remember it as near the site of one of your victories over our people. I will be there at dawn, five mornings after the night of the full moon. I will have a small escort with me but I will approach unarmed and on foot to meet with you. I hope you will do the same.

Please accept my invitation. Mae'le, you have changed everything I believe about the kobold people. I wish that we explorers had acted half as honourably as yourself when we first met.

Blessings of all the gods,
Rovard d'Boulve
Fort Tulder

P.S. It came to my attention only recently that earlier explorers had captured another of your people. I will bring him with me to the meeting and release him to you personally.



I am now releasing the kobold that we captured at the mine. I will offer to let him go alone or to escort him part way if he prefers. He must promise to deliver the message to Mae'e and to do it quickly or the release is off.

ap

[Kyouhen]

Jerald sighs.

"Curses. It would have been such an effective defense too. Well I suppose you should stop trying to make those charms then. No sense in angering the spirits more if we aren't going to get anything out of it."

[Talvara]

Thorik gave a deep long sigh as he and Lars came to some conclusions about the curse. "looks like there ain't no easy way out. I think tha lads already sold a couple o things we took from there, a golden sikkle I'm sure of atleast..." Thoriks brow frowns together "an im sure tha body those idiots took from its tomb won't help our chances either." Thorik pauzes a moment and then smiles at Lars "ya should keep ureself safe an away from this mess, I dunnay what fate rests me an the others, but I'm glad ure spared from it. " Thorik pauzes. "Ofcourse If ya 'ave any suggestions on what I can do ta fix things, They'd surely be welcome haha"

Thorik then goes out to find Milo, "ya mentioned somethin about a dwarven tomb keeper o'something, What was 'e like? do ya think he might be willin to help us?"

[Another_Poet]

Rovard

Sobered by the seriousness of the curse, Rovard does what any blue-blooded noble would do: he turns to the church.

Rovard removes his bone necklace, makes offerings and prayers, then composes a second letter. This one is addressed to the highest priest (or bishop, whatever they have) of the central Temple of Boccob at the capital.


Your Emminence,

I trust you are well and that Boccob's blessing surrounds you. Please forgive this unsolicited letter, but I believe my companions and I have discovered something that will be of great interest to your learned order.

I am currently stationed at Fort Tulder, the infamous frontier outpost that withstood so many elven assaults. I am here assisting a small band of explorers and chroniclers. I cautioned them that the magics and beasts of the frontier would oppose them at every step, but they are a brave lot, and they perservere. So far they have had immense luck in their findings and it is my honour to command them.

A recent discovery is what concerns me. We happened upon an underground structure that turned out to be a druidic tomb. Sadly we were unaware of the nature of the structure until after we had taken several magical artefacts from its forgotten armoury. Not only is the place a grave rather than an outpost, but it is a cursed one at that.

The curse can be easily broken by returning the artefacts, but some of them have been sold and cannot be tracked down. This brings us great sadness as we meant no disrespect to the deceased. Our scholars tell us that the curse keys itself to those who take from the tomb the same way a magic sword keys itself to its first wielder. A number of nasty ghosts follow the magical "tags" that are on us and hunt us down wherever we go. Our choices then seem to be death, or a life of running in search of the lost items. If there is any other way to escape the ghosts it is beyond our limited arcane knowledge.

I implore you, O holy one of wisdom, please aid us. If you would deliver to us one of your learned mage-priests, even for a short time, I am sure such a person could find a way to remove the magical "tags" and thus the entire curse. Please know that such an expedition would be quite safe; the ghosts attack no one but ourselves and, in any case, the sanctified walls of Fort Tulder offer a refuge from their haunting.

I am aware that such a mission would not be without cost. If you send us aid I will personally ensure that we tithe 10% of all valuables recovered from the frontier to the Temple of Boccob for 1 full year. Considering that we commonly reclaim 3,000 gold crowns' worth of magic items per week this would not be an insignificant offering.

However, as you are a virtuous and spiritual being, I know wealth is the least of your concerns. In addition to the tithe, the true promise of this mission is the opportunity to be personally escorted to the tomb and shown its secrets, as well as a chance to examine the magics placed upon us, which are complex and strong. Our mages and priests are all tremendously excited by what we have found here and I have no doubt it will advance your priests' own understanding of their art.

In closing, I will only add that I know our small party is hardly worthy of the concern of a true cleric like yourself. We are few in number, foolish perhaps, and over-brave for certain. If it was only my own existence at stake I would never dare to make such a request of your Emminence. I write mainly for the others under my command - for they are good people, true friends, dedicated scholars, and they work in the face of terrific danger more for Altadia's sake than their own. We are all devout in our prayers here, your Emminence; we would not have come otherwise. Please help us to break this awful druidic curse, and we will forever owe you our thanks and share our every discovery with our friends at the temple of Boccob.

With gratitude and reverence,
Rovard d'Boulve
Fort Tulder Expeditionary Force


Rovard doesn't mention the letter or the proposed tithe to the others. He figures that by the time help arrives in a month, they'll all either be dead or so desperate it will sound like a good deal.

He sends the letter with the first possible caravan.

He then puts his finger-bone necklace back on.

[Morbius]

Milo sights when he hears about what Lars and Thorik found out.

“Then… there is no other way out… we will have to give back these items, dammit I risked my life and Jack died for nothing in the end, and why did I had to claim the bloody ring instead of the amulet….”


Later at Yselle’s shop he finds out about her brother…
Milo can’t do much more for Yselle he simply says:

“I’m sorry we brough back his body, I believe Rovard has him right now, I will ask Rovard to bring him to you…”
After some awkward silence he speaks:
“…hey we also found several of his books, for what my sage friends says he must have been intelligent indeed, actually so useful they were that my friends decided to make them available to anyone here at the fort… perhaps you would like to take a look at them later, there are several notes in the books, maybe there is something about his family in the middle of all the information…”

Saying that Milo gives her the dagger and gets the money (as he will needs for what is to come).


((the only item we sold was the golden sickle right?))
Milo goes out trying to find the merchant that bought the sickle and upon finding him he says:
“My good sir, I am sorry, you probably remember me, I was among the group that a few days ago sold you a golden sickle, I am here today because unfortunately it appears that there actually IS an owner to that item after all, so unfortunately our acquiring of that item was an unintended theft. We would like to return this item to the rightful owner and I would like to ask you to return it to us for the same price that we sold it to you a few days ago. I know this is too much to ask but we simply can’t pay more as all the money we had came from the items we sold and that belonged to him.”

((I am using the gold from the dagger as well as jack's gold here))

[Maxymiuk]

((um, Morbius, you do realize that Yselle is a halfling, yes?))

[Morbius]

((ops, sorry the body was human right?))

Milo also asks Iselle:
"Do you know anything about one 'Morgan Seafood’? We found the dagger on what probably was his body"

[Maxymiuk]

Milo also asks Iselle:
"Do you know anything about one 'Morgan Seafood’? We found the dagger on what probably was his body"

*headdesk*



In regards to the corpse from the tomb: from what she recalls, the group his brother traveled with included three humans, a half-elf and a dwarf, though she only ever found out the name of their leader - Caedmon Thaal.

[Another_Poet]

Rovard shakes Milo by the shoulders.

"Get a hold of yourself man! 'No other way out' indeed! Destroying the ghosts, destroying the temple, getting someone to remove these spell tags from us... Jack didn't die for nothing unless you go and squander all our income on buying back that useless golden sickle!"

[Talvara]

Thorik walks by as Rovard tries to physically impose his will upon the halfling, When he is done with his lines Thorik grabs Rovard by the arm. "let go of 'im, asfar as I can tell, oll Milo 'ere is doin tha only sensible thing we can ta fix this 'ere, I doubt its effectiveness. since yer ignorance in matters of right an respect already caused tha removal o' a ritually intombed corpse, an who knows what else" The dwarf lets his grip on Rovards arm go and turns to Milo.

"I think returnin tha things we removed is correct, but I fear our disrespect o' tha dead has gone far beyond what returnin the items alone could fix." Thorik briefly grooms his beard and continues "I think we aught ta collect ALL the items we took includin tha corpse an ask that dwarven spirit o spectre ya told me an lars about what more must be done ta set things right."

then again Thorik turns to rovard, thistime with an accusing look in his eyes "oh yah... I stoped by vilze recently and saw ure still 'oldin tha duo o Kobolts thar, This is tha final time I'm asking ya to release tha two." finally Thoriks eyes turn in a more compasionate one "I admire an respect that ure always lookin out fer yer companions, but I swear ure ignorance in matters o respect will be tha end o all of us"

[Another_Poet]

"My ignorance?" Rovard looks at the dwarf incredulously.

"Let's talk about ignorance, Master Thorik. First of all, I didn't remove the 'ritually entombed' corpse. If you want to insult that decision, then you're speaking ill of the dead and you should take your gripes to Jack's gods-damned tombstone. The corpse I brought is one of an adventurer who died in the same trap that almost got me, and I thought he might prefer a proper burial rather than spending eternity in the hands of those ghosts."

He scowls meaningfully at Thorik.

"Secondly, the dwarf who harassed us is no spirit. He's flesh and blood and he's not telling us something."

"Lastly, talk to Vilize again. The kobold I took prisoner left this morning with a message to Mae'le so I can negotiate a truce with them. The other two prisoners are not mine, and I didn't even know about them till your 'friend' Vilize handed me a bill for them. Funny how he never mentioned that earlier adventurers had taken them captive - just kept running up their room and board on our tab. Maybe instead of harranguing me, who actually started bringing them decent food and treating them right, you could take it up with someone who'se been around here longer - someone who knew they were there and completely forgot they existed. Hmm?"

Shaking with fury, Rovard nonetheless manages to keep his head held high. "Next time you want to favour that money-grubbing elf over the man who fights beside you on the frontier, do me a favour and check your facts first. If you'll excuse me, Jerald and I are trying to get a look at what kind of ghost we're up against - since Jack left little bits and pieces of druid flesh over a dozen miles of frontier, there is no way to return everything and break the curse, and some of us feel we should do something useful about it."

[Maxymiuk]

A few days after the return of the last expedition, a new adventurer shows up at the fort. A dwarf with a weathered face, dressed in heavy leathers and carrying two axes. In fact, he looks downright familiar to some of you.

After renting a room in the "Last Stop" and having a couple rounds down at the bar, he does a round of the fort's shops, until he finds a certain golden sickle that was sold there a few days ago. He purchases it and leaves that same day.

If he spots anyone he knows during that time, he'll give them a nod and a smile, but won't engage in conversation unless forced to.

[Talvara]

So it was Jack that removed tha body... Alright then, I'm sorry I mistook his foolishness fer yers, Thorik looks at Rovard s good ta hear ya finaly let 'im go, it was bad enough that ya took 'im along just ta stuff im in a cage eventough he didn't 'old hositilities against us, I can only hope 'es gone in good 'ealth and mind and that he may forgive us.".

"Right we 'ave to atleast try an set things right to break tha curse, and what in tha hells do ya mean with something usefull?! its a curse fer cryin out loud. Argh... if and when this curse thing and both o us are hopefully still breathing we'll talk again. fer now we should focus on 'elpin these spirits crossover fer good."

[Another_Poet]

"I agree it would be good to help those spirits rest easy, but right now they are our enemies. By 'something useful' I mean either redirecting the ghosts at our enemies with some spells of misdirection or finding a way to break the curse without returning the goods. As I said, at this point there is no way to return everything. Aside from the crumbling corpse, did you see that the dwarf from the tomb is in town? He bought that sickle... He's returning it, not us. Think about that."

[Talvara]

"So That was 'im ehh... I see, How can ya be so sure that 'we' have to return the 'goods' ure refering to. the curse might be lifted once all the items are back regardless o' the deaths of all involved. but we cannay take that risk I agree, We should go back to tha temple an talk with this... Harel was it?... perhaps he's only trying to help us fools. an if we show 'im were willing and able to set things straight he might even listen, no?"

[Another_Poet]

"It's worth a try. He wasn't very talkative before, though."

[Talvara]

with a meeting with a certain dwarven tombguardian in mind Thorik sets off to to do some shopping, using his dwarven booze instincts the Cleric tries to find a bottle or two of high quality booze. His first stop is Olef Zeimens shop.

"I've heard ya somehow got access to some dwarven forges, now... it aint armour or weapons im looking fer, but If ya have some fine dwarven booze on hands It would really help me if I could buy some from ya. ya see... soon I'll be meetin with a dwarf who lives out on the frontier. an I need a good icebreaker if ya know what im talkin about haha" Regardless of Olef's ability to help Thorik with his request the dwarf leaves Olef with a blessing from Moradin. and either returns to his room to store the booze, Or goes off to use his dwarven booze instincts along the various shops and tragers. if he finds no succes there he heads over to the last stop, and asks Evric if he has some higher quality liqour around that he could look at.

[Morbius]

Milo approaches Harel and attempts to speak to him:

“Ok… so probably we should have listened to you. There is still much debate if we should return the items or not, preferably I don’t want to face the ghosts that lie in that place, but a few don’t share my view…. but I still would like to ask you a few questions if that’s ok, as that will also make your job more easy and….” Milo looks at he sickle on the dwarf’s hand “… probably more cheap as well.”

“Didn’t you said that we had to return the items ourselves? If you take this one won’t we be unable to cancel the curse?”

“Also one of my friends already keyed himself to one of the magic items we brought, if he simply returns it will he be safe? Or he needs to do something else?”

“One of my friends did some… errrr unspeakable things to the body that (the now dead) Jack brought back with him, even if we return the body the spirit’s are likely to hold a grudge? And if yes against us or just against him?”

“If we are going back to return the items is there any way to show our intentions to the ghosts and try to appease them so that we can put the items back more carefully?”

“If one of us refuse to return the item on his possession only he will remain cursed or all of us will continue that way?”

“You said that we have to return the items to end the curse, but to do that we don’t need all to be there at the same time right? I mean, only one or two people from the group may do that right?”

“And finally if I send another person to return the items, one that didn’t make part of the groups that acquired the items, so that he would be less likely to suffer the wrath of the spirits, would the curse end?”

[Another_Poet]

Rovard

The day they got back from the expedition, while Milo was off at the fort's treasury to withdraw Jack's gold and before Lars had done his research, Rovard helped sort through the items from the graves and from the dead adventurer.

Since spirits were still high that the curse could be broken, Rovard took his magical amulet and enough saleable goods to add up to his fair share. He wanted to get his new gear quickly because he was low on supplies.

Later on when the others got scared and decided everything had to be returned, Rovard tried to explain that it was a suicide mission to go back near that place before the misdirection spells were tested.

The others seemed unconvinced so he decided to see what the ghosts look like for himself.

He mounts up on Jacquelyne II, in full battle dress, and departs from the fort on his own around an hour after noon.

He stops his horse only 60 feet outside the gate and waits up to one half hour scanning the plains for signs of any restless spirits.

Does he see anything?

If not, he rides out no more than one quarter mile, and perhaps a little less. He then immediately turns around and returns to the fort.

Anything spooky happen?

((tag Max))

[Maxymiuk]

Harel and Milo

"I only ever went and said that, cause I was hopin' ye'd listen t' reason an' save me the trouble o' huntin' down yer corse fer the bleedin' things," he pauses thoughtfully. "And even if ye did, to stop ye from sendin' some hapless sod to return the things in yer stead."

He shakes his head at the follies of adventurers.

"Jes' do yerself a favor am' get everythin' ye took back into the tomb as soon as ye can. That's includin' the body, mind ye. Once ye do so, ye will have nothin' to fear. Don' matter who does it, though I'd call ye a coward fer not doin' it yerself."

An' I tried to help ye once, didn' i? Tol' ye what ye could do. Ye didn' listen tho, did ye? So now sleep in the bed ye made fer yerself."


Rovard

The only thing that troubles him are the mosquitoes near the river.


Thorik

After some asking around, Thorik eventually finds himself talking with Evric, who reveals that he does indeed have access to a small barrel of Vergan ale, stamped with the symbol of Gerstein Brewery (one of the best from the few dwarven breweries that remain in operation in the empire).

He's willing to part with it for 35gp.

[Talvara]

Thoriks eyes fill with joy as he sees the keg. "ya lovely man you, If I wasn't straped fer cash right now I'd buy it just fer meself haha, Im afraid a barrel is a bit tomuch at the moment, Do ya happen to have a bottle O the stuff?" Thorik smiles at Evric who just went up even higher in his pattented competence meter

"ya, see I need it as an icebreaker fer a dwarf who is out thar on the frontier. an a barrel might just be overdoin it a lil haha, not to mention a bit hard to transport!"

edit:

"On second tought," Thorik sizes up the small barrel. "it might be just fine! I'm afraid I cannay put down tha price ure askin tough, could ya help out a loyal patron an let it go fer 30 gold? I can pay ya right 'ere an now" Thorik smiles at the inns keeper.

[Inspectre]

Towards midday a figure can be seen riding towards the fort from the south. He seems to be in no great hurry, and stops for several long minutes upon coming in sight of the fort. Finally he urges his mount forward once more, eliciting a loud bray of protest from the creature as it carries him down across the bridge and up to the fort gates proper.

Up close the figure can be easily identified as an elf, due to his shorter stature and delicate build. He is somewhat unusual looking for an elf nonetheless, as his black hair consists of an unruly mane that stretches down to just above his waist. It seems he has not cut his hair in a very long time, although he has made attempts to keep it relatively free of debris. Here and there lengths of the hair have been braided, more so near the top of his head, presumably in an attempt to keep it out of his face - once past his shoulders, the braids mostly stop and the hair simply hangs loosely.

He also appears to be an older elf, his face heavily weathered and starting to wrinkle up in the same way most humanoid races seem to do as they begin to approach the last third of their life spans.

Although a bit oversized on him, the elf's explorer's clothes blend together nicely with his suit of studded leather, which is well-fitted. Hanging from his neck on a leather thong is a wooden holy symbol of Ehlonna. Slung across his back is a longbow and quiver - the elf does not seem to be carrying any other weapons.

Approaching the guards at the gate, the elf tenses, but he does not seem to have any trouble in passing through into the fort save for curious stares from the guards. Once inside the fort, he dismounts and wanders around a bit, finally locating the tavern. Leaving his mule teethered outside, the elf ventures into the tavern, making straight for the bar. He pauses to idly wipe at the section of the bar in front of him with a slight look of disgust before adopting a pleasant expression when the barkeep finally takes notice of him.

"Water, if it's free. I should also like to know where one might go to find productive employment, if it's not too much trouble good sir."

[Another_Poet]

When the expedition to the temple returns alive with news that the curse is lifted, Rovard heads to the caravaners to see if they left yet with his letter to the high priest of Boccob. If they haven't left yet he will take it back from them and apologise for the mixup.

If it's too late, he grins sheepishly. "Guess we'll just have to hope they send someone open-minded..."

[Arkaim]

Maximillius, Human Knight

A lone figure walks over to the bridge leading to Fort Tulder. His clothes and hair are in tatters from all those weeks of traveling.

""Fort Tulder. After all these years, I'm back. Look out Frontier, Maximillius has arrived."

((Que dramatic song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMGzxfumjzA).))

[Another_Poet]

Rovard pauses as he climbs down from his daily stroll along the wall. He's glad to see what looks like a new fighting-man arrive at the main gate, but... the man's heraldry catches his eyes.

He squints. The coat of arms... the Maximiliuses? The man is so old, yet he doesn't wear the livery of a retainer or the dual heraldry of a vassal. From his determined, noble gait he doesn't seem like a bandit, so the armour probably wasn't stolen.

But the Maximiliuses' sons and daughters at arms would be younger... unless....

"Holy ----."

Scrambling, Rovard regrets that he doesn't have a horn on him for a proper fanfare. He jumps to the ground, nearly turns his ankle and runs to the main gate like a rat in a hailstorm.

Appearing on the main street into the fort, Rovard stops a respectful distance from the newcomer. He eyes him up and down just once, then folds to the ground in a practised kneeling bow, his hands swept to the side away from his weapon.

"Your Lordship, I humbly welcome you to Fort Tulder."

((Yep, I even listened to your song :) ))

[The Bellmaker]

Walking down the main street of the fort one morning, as he is wont to do, Baz noticed the boy - what was his name? Ah, yes, Rovard - making a bit of a commotion at the gate, as some armoured ancient arrived... But wait a moment, what's this?

Baz walked over, old eyes wide in disbelief. "What? Sir? You...you're back! At your age?" He completely ignored his hypocrisy. "It's good to see you again, sir...Remember me? Baz, the boy...You led my squad for a time, at the end of the War..."

[Another_Poet]

Rovard's head snaps up from his kneeling position. Standing, his arm reaches out for Baz's shoulder.

"Kneel, you fool! This man is a count*!"

*Or whatever rank you have chosen for youself

[thisisaspace]

Lars carries his tea cup over to the window, like he does every time he hears the gates open. The window shows a modest view of Fort Tulder.
An old man in armour enters the fort. He takes a few leisurely steps as he takes in to his surrounding, perhaps reminiscing. Shortly after the old man was greeted rather ceremoniously by Rovard, then approached by Baz, too.
Lars takes a sip of his tea, and returns to his work.

[Morbius]

Milo watches the scene from a distance and speaks to himself.

"I get the old wizard but I didn't took that stuck-up Rovard for a but kisser, oh well, I wonder if the beasts from the frontier will like more old meat... Now... to continue to hide from my debt collectors..."

[Maxymiuk]

((I really need to get better with this posting these things sooner... Rehash of what I said during the session plus some additional info))

Further research into the mines

According to the book (as well as a large number of notes made in the margins by the previous owner), the plane intersecting this one is called the Plane of Pain, more colloquially known as the Charnel House.

One thing to note is that the plane isn't called after being the embodiment of the experience of pain - rather, this was the name given it due to the fact that most creatures inhabiting it tend to kill you in imaginative (and painful) ways and then use your body to kill even more people. The colloquial comes from the fact that most creatures of this world find that the air there reeks of burned corpses (making it very difficult to breathe, though it's manageable).

Since the plane's astral signature is known - even if it's somewhat obscure - it's possible to use it as a qualifier for Protection from X and similar spells.

Perhaps of even more interest is the circumstances by which the original owner of the book happened upon that info. According to the notes, the group he was part of happened upon a portal via a network of caves they've accessed by managing to collapse most of a castle into them (no the notes you have don't elaborate on what the name of the castle was, or how they've managed said feat in the first place). They tried to close the gate via magical means, but found themselves lacking, and eventually decided on a temporary measure, until they'd discover such a way - they've simply collapsed the cavern onto the gate.

Obviously, someone went and dug the darned thing up.


The mysterious collapsed castle
((Just saving time here - someone would start making Knowledge checks))

The notes in the books seem to indicate that the group was lost in the caverns for a couple days or so. Also there's something about a giant weasel. But anyway...

Assuming that they'd move slower while exploring the underground and cross-referencing it with a list of existing fiefdoms from old census records, this leaves you with two options. It could either be Castle Erleigh, or Castle Turmlen - both were considered abandoned, and at least partially collapsed, so that the enemy couldn't use them. Their exact location isn't known at this point - Erleigh was somewhere to the north of the forest you've been visiting so much lately, while Turmlen would lie to the east, somewhere near the highway towards Kaitleen's Crossing.

Of course, by this point in time finding the "topside" entrances into these castles, or even any sign of their presence for that matter would be a miracle in and of itself.

[Arkaim]

Maximillius, Human Knight

((I suppose I'll make those knowledge checks about that castle now. I'm sure Maximillius will eventually learn about the recent endeavors of the adventuring groups. This knowledge check is to determine more information about castle that one group collapsed. It will use the bonus books for the +4 bonus.
Knowledge (nobility and royalty): 1d20+5+4
Knowledge (history): 1d20+5+4
Knowledge (geography): 1d20+5+4
I was thinking about making a knowledge (local) check too, however, its description didn't seem to match well with this situation. ))

Maximillius is taken aback. At Rovard's request to kneel, Maximillius waves the command off.

"There is no need for a fellow warrior to kneel before me. I have already surrendered my title, my land, and all other important properties first son. Along with some gold for my other sons. Now, I am just old man, or just insane for seeking my death out in the frontier."

Maximillius examines his signet ring for a bit and looks up at Baz.

"Baz is it? I am sorry. I do not remember you. It's for the best really, I've seen so many young people die in the war. It is better to not become to attached to anyone. Though I do appreciate this most gracious welcoming," Maximillius gives Rovard a nod, "I am surprised that anyone here would recognize me."

Maximilius closes his eyes and shakes his head.

"I have been away from the frontier for so long. Perhaps you fellow warriors would like to enlighten me of the going ons over a drink?"

Maximillius walks over to the side of Rovard and extends his arm towards the fort and smiles at the two.

[Arkaim]

((I'm not sure how those rolls messed up.
1d20+9
1d20+9
1d20+9 ))

[Arkaim]

((I don't understand what's going on! I have done these things fine before!
1d20+5+4
1d20+5+4
1d20+5+4 ))

[Arkaim]

((Let's try a different approach.
{roll=Knowledge (nobility and royalty)}1d20+5+4{/roll}
{roll=Knowledge (history)}1d20+5+4{/roll}
{roll=Knowledge (geography)}1d20+5+4{/roll} ))

[Arkaim]

((Maybe it's the paratheses that is throwing it off?))
1d20+9
1d20+9
1d20+9

[Arkaim]

((Not sure what is the deal with that post roll count message.))
Knowledge (nobility and royalty): [roll0]
Knowledge (history): [roll1]
Knowledge (geography): [roll2]

[Another_Poet]

Rovard starts to apologise, and then accepts the friendly smile from the lord for what it is.

He'll show the man to the Last Stop, somehow not thinking that he's been here before. He runs to get a bar rag and cleans off a table near the fire, then orders the best wine the bartender has available.

He serves Maximilius and Baz before taking a seat and pouring some for himself.

"Lord Maximilius, if I may ask, how did it come to pass that you surrendered your title?"

[thisisaspace]

Knowledge checks (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2096245/)for Castle Erleigh.
Knowledge checks (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2096246/)for Castle Turmlen.

[Talvara]

Following the 'days' that the group spends at the fort Thorik regularly checks up on those that were afliced by the zylisks noxious breath. Casting Minor restoration on them when he has it available. and otherwise trying to ease the process of recovery.

((let me know if you want any rolls))

[Inspectre]

Seeing this new group arriving within the tavern, Garren momentarily leaves the bar to approach them. They seemed to be adventurers.

Garren had heard rumors on his way north that many adventurers had flocked to the northern frontier to loot the battlefields like vultures. For once, however, Garren was glad they were in such abundance - those adventurers that weren't dead usually had coin.

Reaching the table that the small group had chosen, Garren cleared his throat and gave a low bow once he had gotten their attention.

"Greetings. I am Garren Darkfall, a traveling pastor. Are any of you in need of a cleric? I understand that the Frontier is quite dangerous."

[Another_Poet]

Rovard stands with a hand on his sword at the intrusion from the elf.

"We're having a conversation, elf. We have no need for anything you can provide. If you were a true cleric you would prove your worth on the Frontier, instead of sullying our streets and our tavern."

[Inspectre]

Garren quirks an eyebrow at the young human's outburst. For just the briefest of moments his own temper rises, but he quashes the sensation quickly. Once he had been young and foolish as well, and back then his passions had only brought him endless trouble. He would not allow them to nearly be the death of him a second time.

"My apologies if I offended you in some way." Garren stated, circling around the table a few steps, away from the human hothead. If the young fool actually drew his sword, would anyone here leap to his defense? He had heard rumors of elves being lynched in border towns before, and those had been loyal lap dogs to the humans to begin with.

"I have only recently arrived here on the Frontier. Certainly, I would be happy to "prove my worth" to you on your next expedition out into the wastes. Or am I mistaken in my assumption that you are all adventurers, rather than mere guards?"

Although Garren's lingering smile remainned, a hint of disdain had crept into his tone despite his best efforts to keep his voice even.

[Another_Poet]

"Indeed, we are an expeditionary force of sorts. For now, the group has given their trust to me as their captain, though I gladly submit to the authority of his Lordship." Rovard looks towards Maximilius, then back at the elf. "The plain is more dangerous than it looks, and the woods more dangerous still. I suggest you return to wherever you came from, and leave us to tame the wild with our own blood."

[Morbius]

Milo chuckles as Rovard says that the group trust him as their captain but does keep a wary eye at the newcomer, after all elves... all this mess is because of them, not that all these riches aren't here to be found because of them either.

[Inspectre]

Hearing the young human's latest argument, Garren's slight smile blossoms into a predatory grin.

"If the Frontier is as dangerous as you say, and let me assure you that I do not doubt your claims, then you have all the more need for my services. And technically, this land is where I originally came from, just like all the elves."

This last statement was a bit of a gamble, particularly since this band of humans did not appear to like any sort of elf. Wishing to hurry over this point before their minds could start working on all the atrocities his people had done, Garren quickly continues.

"My people shed their blood over this land. Without elven aid, your people might not have held it. How could I do any less? Please, allow me to aid in your efforts to reclaim it, as the elves aided your forefathers during the war."

It took a bit of effort not to say "traitors", but Garren chose his words carefully. Among a group of people already suspicious of elves, the slightest hint of his true origin could be fatal, even if he had no interest in continuing the War.

[Another_Poet]

Barina

While most of the fort's adventurers are out on the Fyonole expedition, a few merchants can be seen riding into town. With them is a young woman, not even 20 years old. She sits upright on a borrowed horse with the grace and poise of an aristocrat's daughter. Unusual for one of her station, she has chosen to wear pantaloons rather than a skirt, and her nicely curved hips are visible beneath the cut of her ring mail shirt. The mail itself hugs an ample bust. Perhaps a true beauty has come to the frontier.

However, as the soldiers at the gate get ready to make their cat calls she rides closer and her face comes into view. The men step back, none wanting to hit on her anymore. Some look away embarassedly while others exchange pained glances. What did this girl's parents do to her face? She has five kinds of ugly going on and that's after the makeup is applied.

She enters the fort, unaware of the soldiers' guffaws, and asks for the whereabouts of one Rovard d'Boulve.

The deal with Barina:

She was betrothed to Rovard six months ago. For some reason he decided he had to go make a name for himself in the world before getting married. I wonder why?? It took her a while to cajole one of his brothers into telling her where he went, but when she found out she got some armour and headed out to the frontier immediately to find him.

It's obvious she is truly smitten by the young nobleman. "I don't care if we can't get married yet," she confides to the explorers at the Last Stop. "I just want to be near him. I can have fresh pastries waiting for him when he comes back from his expeditions! And sing songs for him at night. *giggle*" If she only had a journal with his name written in it 8,000 times she would be the perfect picture of a naive, cloistered maiden.

Barina's Views on Elves

When Barina hears that there are kobold prisoners she decides to go and see them. She wants to try out her Draconic language skills.

When she sees Vilize she gasps in surprise. "Ah! An elf! Oh aren't you precious!" She leans in and whispers a secret to Vilize. "I think it's jut horrible the way some people treat your kind. You all deserve a second chance. Why I bet you never hurt anyone, did you?" She gives a knowing wink to the half-elf. "If anyone bothers you just send 'em to me! I'll give them an earful for you!"

She suddenly blushes, realising she made a reference to ears in front of the poor elf with his silly deformed ears. She hopes she didn't embarass him!!

Barina and the Baby Kobolds

When Barina finally sees the kobolds she spends about three hours gushing on about how cute the babies are. She talks a lot with the remaining prisoner about them. She feeds them till they can't eat any more. She plays games with the babies and tells Vilize he really should let the poor kobolds out of their cell to get some exercise.

Then the tragedy happens...
Barina waits expectantly by the frontier gate every evening. She wears a veil and holds a bouquet of flowers, ready to surprise her beloved. One evening her heart starts pounding as she sees a group of mules and horses approaching.

Jumping up and down, she can't wait. She runs out into the open frontier toward the group, yeling, "Rovie! Rovie, my sweetheart, my darling, my heart, come to your Barina!!"

She knows something is wrong before she even reaches the party. No one responds except to look at each other in awkward silence. But it's not till she sees the charred body strapped to a mule that tears fill her eyes. The falchion hanging beside it is an immediate giveaway.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" She claws at her face and rips her veil off, exposing her bizarre features to the party. Tears and snot cover her as she wails to the gods to undo it.

"Oh gods! A cleric! Someone get a cleric! Oh my gods no!"

She starts erratically casting various spells, as if maybe she can Raise Dead if she tries hard enough. Several Cause Fears and a few bolts of frost hit the corpse and turf underfoot. All she succeeds in doing is spooking the mule and wilting some grass.

It takes nearly an hour to get her off of the poor noble's corpse and return to the fort.

Barina Becomes an Adventurer

Later, somewhat calmed down, Barina hears all about how Rovard became a mule jockey and "led" the group through numerous battles. (I assume people are being nice and saying he was a great leader, etc.) Someone suggests she return to her home instead of dwelling in this awful place, and she says that maybe after the funeral she will do that.

But as the night wears on, she lies awake in bed and thinks only of revenge. Revenge, and the dreams that her poor Rovie had of greatness. How could that nasty beast cut him down so young? Doesn't the creature know it was created to protect humans? Rovard should've been its master, not its victim! She resolves that she will avenge her beloved, and become the lady of Castle Fyonole to rule it in his absence. It will be a fitting tribute for the man of her dreams, and keep his memory alive.

But she wonders how she can do it. How did Rovard do it? How did he stay alive as long as he did? His companions spoke highly of the demon mule he rode. She thinks it's an odd thing to ride in battle, but Rovard was a true cavalier. She must go see the mule for herself.

After midnight, she sneaks into the stable and approaches the stall where the mule is supposed to be. She sees it is still awake, and seems unsettled. She feels immediate kinship with it.

"So you are Jacquelyne..." she breathes. She sits down next to the stall. "I guess you're the other woman who loved him. You're sad too, aren't you milady?"

Jacquelyne snorts and stamps her hoof.

Barina sighs.

"Well, maybe you and I will get along then."

In the morning, the groom finds Barina sleeping in an upright position against the door of Jacquelyne's stall. Barina wakes up with a start and will not allow the mule or her gear to be sold under any conditions.

"I will take Rovard's place in the battle line henceforward," she announces. "Anything he did to secure this frontier, I also will do. Now, where do I sign up for an expedition?"

((Barina will move into Rovard's room, study his annals and continue to update them for the party.))

[Maxymiuk]

Regarding Barina's crunch:
- 6 charisma? How? No. If I allowed subtracting points from the baseline, everyone would be walking around with 3 Cha, to better hit things with their ugly sticks.
- The rest looks fine, if unfinished here and there.

[thisisaspace]

Lars is initially against keeping the kobold children in cells, but he was soon convinced it's better this way than having them wander into the fort and clash with the guards. He spends a lot of time keeping the children company, reading them stories.

If Barina asks Lars about Rovard, he'll be polite but won't exaggerate. Lars is more of a if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all type. I'm sure she'll find other people who'll entertain her though.

[Morbius]

(Before our latest adventure to Fyonole)

Milo's morale is destroyed once more, dog meat was dead... again, but on the bright side so was Rovard, the duskblade was dead, they would not have those long discussions about loot and tactics... then again... perhaps... he do would miss him... just a little.

Milo removed from the spare donkey the barding and saddle that belonged to Dog meat II, he was considering to sell them, when he had a sudden insight, he though of something but he would leave that for the next day.

As they arrived the group was faced by a woman(one whose face was as pretty as Jacqueline’s) she claimed to be Rovard's fiancée. Milo felt pity from the duskblade for once. She claimed much of what belonged to Rovard, but she didn’t seem to notice or care about his amulet. As she asked about Rovard Milo and Lars remained silent, better not to speak then speak ill of the dead… well not exactly, but the woman was already quite broken and Milo would not want her crying on him about Rovard not being this or that.

The division of the loot took some time, not because there was so much fight over it as usual, but because it was quite large, Milo could only imagine how long it would take if Rovard was here, but then again, there were no uber powerful magic items(except Rovard's).

In the end, no one wanted to take away from their own shares to keep the amulet, but it would be a waste to sell it, seeing no other alternative Milo kept it, barely leaving him with money and a few simple items. It was a keyable item, after used that stuff was hard or almost impossible to sell. Milo really was not happy about being stuck with it, maybe he could eventually improve it some day, who knows, but once again the pair of wands and the buckler that he so much coveted were away from his grasp.

On the next day Milo paid his debts in the fort (he was happy about not having to run from the shop keepers for a change), then he bough a big and juicy mutton, grabbed dog meat’s stuff as well as his bow and set out to that particular small patch of trees that he visited twice before.

He sat there and waited, and waited and waited, the day was almost over when he heard a noise behind him, he turned to find… a riding dog, the spitting image of dog meat I and II, yet… somehow… different. He gave the mutton to the mutt and as he ate he placed the barding and saddle on the dog and returned smiling to the fort. To anyone that would give him a puzzled look he would say “What can I do? They keep following me home.”

But unfortunately depending on dog meat to carry him around was starting to seem more and more unlikely, the dog just refused to learn any trick beyond attacking and Milo needed mobility to get the best from his abilities, so Milo decided to buy Dog Meat a partner and nothing better to accompany dog meat than Barbecue Sauce, a well trained female she was, and would carry Milo around without complaining. So, with a new dog in the band Milo set out to the frontier once more.

[thisisaspace]

In the event of my death, or extended disappearance:

All my adventuring possession and currency are to be donated to the Frontiers Fund. (If they are retrieved)
I will pass on the position of Co-ordinator of the Frontiers Fund and Library to Rovard, second choice Milo Milo, second choice Thorik. If the inheritor does not wish to take on such task, he or she may elect another adventurer for the position.
All my research shall be gathered and given to Ester Vilize, who must present the research to University Arcanum of Osseron.

I do not hope that my name or my achievements shall be bestowed immortality, but I wish to see them live on as long as they must. Namely, the Frontiers Fund and Library, and the Tuldurian code.

Lastly, It is a silly request, but present my blend of local herbs and tea with Osseron's prime black tea, which I had perfected over the time I have spent in the Frontiers, to Evric of the Last Stop to Nowhere. If he find it pleasant to his taste, I wish the concoction to be made available for order in the Last Stop. The recipe is stored on the shelf above the teapot. Since I would only reveal the recipe in the event of my death, may it be named "Lars Thoughts".

((You shall find 394 gp and 6 cp in Lars' room.))

[Kyouhen]

In the event of my untimely demise:

It was a pleasure travelling the frontier with all of you and I could not have asked for a better group of friends to fight beside, though my usefulness may be questionable. I am sorry I was unable to leave any fine items of power or golems or other such wonders behind to benefit all those who will come after, but I suppose my quest was never meant to be completed. My valuables shall be distributed as follows:

There is an amount of gold currently under a loose floorboard under the chest in my room. All of it is to be put directly into the Adventurer's Fund to make up for the gold I have constantly borrowed for scrolls but continue to forget to pay back.

My scrolls are to be left to Baz. May he put them to good use.

The rest of my belongings are to be distributed as Rovard Thorik sees fit, for he is a fine man dwarf and I trust that he knows who would best make use of them. There is one small condition though, and that is that none of my belongings are to be left to Milo. I'm sorry Milo, you are a good person and I was happy to fight alongside you, but you do tend to worry about how wealth is distributed a little much. I hope that not getting any out of my death might help you loosen up a bit. Nothing personal.

-Jerald Eftlam

((In Jerald's room is 150gp and the empty husks of a few of the giant beetles that were killed on his first expedition))

[Mourdos]

Mid afternoon, the day after Lars, Jerald, Garren and Milo left to visit the farmsteads, a battered and tired dog wanders into camp with a saddle on its back. To those who knew Milo, this appears to be his mount, BBQ Sause.

Apon his side are claw marks, like that made by a wolf or badger, or some other creature with claws. His fur is matted with blood and he appears close to death.

Milo and the others don't appear after him, presumed to be killed in service a couple of days later.

[Another_Poet]

Barina solemly begins to clean out the rooms of the missing.

She offers the beetle husks to Vilize, free of charge, since she doesn't feel they will make good disguises.

She combines the money of both of the (heretofore posted) deceased. She puts the whole sum in the Adventurer's Fund. 394.06 + 150 = 544.06 added to Adventurer's Fund (Space, are you the one who tracks this stuff? What's the total right now?)

As per the instructions, any scrolls she finds in Kyouhen's room she gives to Baz.

She takes the recipe for Lars' tea and, without reading it, stows it in her own room along with his will. It's not sure he's dead yet, and he said to only release the recipe in the event of his death. So she'll wait a little bit on that.

She gives Lars' research papers to Thorik and tells him of the request to share it with Vilize. She also makes sure to look through it all herself to make sure that her/Rovard's annals are accurate.

Of course, she washes up BBQ Sauce and asks Thorik to heal the poor dog. She gives it a nice place with her own dog and nurses it back to health.

Morbius: Is your new character going to be a dog jockey? If you need a trained riding dog I'll pass it on to you. Otherwise I'll employ BBQ sauce in battle alongside my own dog.

[thisisaspace]

((I keep it updated, yes, I've already included Lars' money to the funds, will inlcude Jerald's 150 now))

((as for the total, you can easily find that out by, oh i dunno, looking into the google docs account yourself? >_>))
((it's at 868.46 gp right now, Lars' and Jerald's included)))

[Mourdos]

Can people check over the latest character up in the recruitment thread to see if there are any problems with it?

[Another_Poet]

Barina

Barina finds that Thorik has been deep in meditation for weeks. She has never met the dwarf and certainly doesn't intend to interrupt his devotional practices. So instead of giving him Lars' papers and research, she puts it with Rovard's things. If Thorik shows his face later, she'll gladly pass them along.

((OOC: No sign of Talvara/Thorik. Barina is now the sole historian of the party.))

She sees that Jerald had wanted his extra scrolls to go to Baz, but she didn't see any scrolls in his room. It seems he must have taken them all with him, but she decides to go check one more time in case she missed them...

((OOC: Kyouhen, your sheet makes it look like all your scrolls went with you to the frontier, is this correct?))

[Talvara]

Thorik finally emerges from his chambers, His cheeks look a little caved. and he seems tired. As he heads to the Last stop to fill up his 'reserves' to compensate the weightloss he has had while in trance the sad and pittying onlooks of those around him unsettle the dwarf.

As he orders his food and drink from Evric he asks what he has missed over the last days. With the grim news of death Thorik finds it hard to eat. he spends roughly half an hour listening to his stomach growl while staring at the flames of the fireplace. After eating his meal and his drink Thorik once again aproaches Evric, and this time hands him 10goldcoins. "Tonight, we drink ta remember tha dead. and drink asif theres no tomorow. Drinks are on me"

[Another_Poet]

Barina

When she sees the half-starved dwarf, Barina approaches him cautiously. She still wears the black veil of mourning but, inside the dim tavern, has lifted it to see better. By the firelight Thorik can see that she is not exactly a lookr by human standards, indeed quite the opposite, but perhaps that is considered attractive in dwarven culture.

"Master Thorik? Pardon me, we haven't met before, but..."

Upon finding that Thorik already knows about the missing expedition, she says, "I didn't know Master Lars very well but he seemed so gentle and upstanding. I'm holding some of his papers and books that he wanted you to have. I've taken over Rovard's chronicles, but the fort used to have two historians. Would you consider continuing Lars' work?"

"Oh, also, some of us are going to mount an expedition tomorrow to see if we can find survivors, or at least discover what creature claimed the party. Would you do us the honour of coming along?"

* * * * * * * *

Later, Barina visits one of the clerics of Heironeous who live at the fort. She drops a few gold coins into the offertory box.

"Father," she says with a respectful curtsy. "I've come to request your services. Is it possible for you, or one of the priests, to read omens of the future of our expedition? We are setting off in search of an expedition that may have been completely annihilated. If you can look into the future and advise us of any special precautions to take, it may mean our lives."

[Talvara]

"so ure one o rovards relatives... I only found out he was gone today aswell, Im sorry fer yer loss. Please 'ave a drink ta remember 'im, hehe... we shared our luck in battle. we dinnay get along like tha best o em, but 'e did always 'ave tha best interest o his companions at mind."

Thorik peers down into his mug. "now lars... tha one I cannay believe is gone... he's saved many from tha harsh frontier, aye... he might not 'ave been a dwarf but I considered im my brother..." Thorik sighs and takes a swig of ale "I'd be 'onoured to take over his work, I can only hope I do half a job he did haha..."

"Aye, I'll come along on tha rescue mission o yers, knowing tha frontier tough... I dun think we'll find much ta rescue... now... sit with me an drink lass. t'night we remember tha dead"

somewhere after the drinking night and before the start of the expedition thorik scours the shops to find a set of platinum rings. ((If these are available I'll remove 100GP from my sheet.))

[Maxymiuk]

((Platinum rings are available))

((Also, since space informed me about certain events...))

The day after the last expedition set out, Lars's horse, Tommy, wandered back to the fort - this is not the first time this happened, to hear the guards say, and it is a fair indication that the original owner is dead.

However, the horse still carries the saddlebags filled with the (presumably deceased) owner's possesions. Unless someone claims them, both the horse and the items will fall under the Church's ownership. As per Lars's will, these items are to be transferred into the Adventurer's Fund.

((I'll let Lars fill you in on what's there))

[thisisaspace]

Light Warhorse
Military Saddle
Cold Weather Clothing
Light Leather Barding (equipped)
Chains (20ft)
Lock (very simple)

Backpack
Bedroll
Trail Rations x18
Blanket, winter
Torch
Waterskin

No sign of the healing wands or the scroll case. Items added to the Funds.

[Another_Poet]

"so ure one o rovards relatives... I only found out he was gone today aswell, Im sorry fer yer loss. Please 'ave a drink ta remember 'im, hehe... we shared our luck in battle. we dinnay get along like tha best o em, but 'e did always 'ave tha best interest o his companions at mind."

Though not accustomed to heavy drinking, nor to the strong ale that is consumed here instead of honey wine, Barina nonetheless gives herself over to vice and drinks to the point of embarassment. The promise of divination from the priest sounded both expensive and unreliable, and she tries not to think about the danger lurking ahead tomorrow.

By the end of the night she is getting far too touchy with the dwarf, and wherever she may wake up, it's unlikely she will remember how she got there.

[Talvara]

if its trough trust or liqour Barina seems to hold no fear that she will end up in a wrong place, And neither should she fear. for Thorik is a noble dwarf (and really not that atracted to human females (really not attracted to human females with a negative Carisma modifier)).

The Dwarven cleric made sure she would wake up in her own bed, and leaves the lady with the disapointment that Moradin hasn't ever granted him a 'cure hangover' spell.

[thisisaspace]

Crom arrived at the fort not long after the tragedy. He introduced himself to a few people as a warrior and asked the usual questions, which I'm sure the people of the fort are so used to answering them by now they should just hand out pamphlets.

Crom is a well built man who looks to be thirty-something. He is adorn with various fur and leather. Some of which are old and mangy, some shiny and new. He carries a small arsenal of weapons with him - the two polearms being the most conspicuous. He has garnished his left arm with a number of accessories; animal teeth, rosary beads, a holy symbol of Kord as well as various charms and trinkets. His posture is strict and his expression stern.

He brought with him his weapons, some personal baggage and not much else. Upon learning of the reservoir of adventuring gears that are available to all adventurers, he makes contacts with Thorik.
"I will need these following items," Crom wasted no time to bring it up after a short exchange of pleasantries, "you have them in the Frontiers Fund, yes?"
He waves a piece of paper with a list of various item, the handwriting is surprisingly neat, at least considering the author's appearance.
"I am aware that all together they come to quite a price, in fact, I've asked one of the shopkeepers, and they are worth a total of two hundred and twelve gold, eight silver. I am willing to donate this amount into the Frontiers Fund in exchange for these items. Is this acceptable?"
((assuming no one objects, see the OOC thread for details of these items))

After Jan Osborn shows him where the two horses that belongs to the Frontiers Fund are, he asks if he could take a test ride.
While they both performed to Crom's satisfaction, Tommy shown he's got a few tricks over Ragnok's horse. However, Tommy shows a certain aloofness while the other is eager to prove himself. Crom is uncertain which he should choose.
"Kord will provide the answer." Crom said as he takes out a gold coin, he tossed it in the air and caught it. It shows head.
"Sorry there, buddy." Crom said to Ragnok's horse, "Hope you'll find a rider soon."
Crom walks over to Tommy and offers him a carrot. Tommy takes his time to swallow the hay that he is having, leaving the barbarian standing there for a good five seconds before he takes the carrot from him.

[Morbius]

A man wearing a simple robe atop a proud white stallion enters the fort, he nods to the soldiers at the gate as he enters. After securing a place at the stables for his horse he goes directly to the last stop. Once there he overhears about a group of adventurers that disappeared recently.

“At least this part of the Halfling’s story was true, let’s see if the rest is as he claimed it would be…”

He introduces himself as a wizard that has barely started to learn his craft but knows how to hold his own and immediately volunteers to join the search party that is going out on the next day (after all, if they were some of the most powerful adventurers of the fort there are bound to be some pretty powerful magic items there…)

[Talvara]

Thorik eyes the new adventurer and as he made his request he answered with "ehh... Aye sure. follow me"

after taking Crom to the adventures fund he sets off gathering the items he requested, Thorik makes a disorganised impression but by some feat of luck manages to find everything. as he hands them over he speaks again "I see ya got a holy symbol O Kord thar, A fine deity he is. altough he dunnay come close to tha old all father haha, Back when I ran errants fer tha mountainhomes where I came from, I was fortunate enough to sometimes hear grand stories about Kord, Perhaps ya can share some more with me once we get ta know eachother better"

"about yer gold... Well lets say yer donation is apreciated. it shows me ya got ure sense o 'onour in tha right spot. Welcome aboard and may tha frontier be less brutal to ya than it was to me friends..."

[Kyouhen]

Osworth Planter

A tall, thin man riding a mule arrives at the fort. To anyone who asks he quickly identifies himself as a wanderer who makes his living by gardening, and the symbol of Fharlanghn around his neck readily identifies him as a worshipper of the road. He explains his purpose in the frontier is to find interesting new plants by the request of a nobleman who wishes to remain anonymous. Something about it being a surprise for his daughter's birthday.

He sets about claiming a space in the stable for his mule and finding a room before wandering around the fort to familiarize himself with it.

[The Bellmaker]

The Last Will and Testament of Baz Baeaz, Wizard
I, Baz, being of...etc. etc.
All of my gold, my Pearl, and my spellbook are to be added to the Frontier fund. The Pearl and Spellbook are NOT to be sold.
My other possessions are to be added to the find, to be distributed as Thorik sees fit.

((I have added 1373.4 gold to the Fund, as well as my assorted goods. You recovered my body, I believe, so What I carried goes in, too.))

[Morbius]

The Last Will and Testament of Baz Baeaz, Wizard
I, Baz, being of...etc. etc.
All of my gold, my Pearl, and my spellbook are to be added to the Frontier fund. The Pearl and Spellbook are NOT to be sold.
My other possessions are to be added to the find, to be distributed as Thorik sees fit.

((I have added 1373.4 gold to the Fund, as well as my assorted goods. You recovered my body, I believe, so What I carried goes in, too.))

Hum... this really kills any benefit of bringing back any dead companion, I mean what kind of adventurer can't even loot his dead companions?

Hum... on another though I must really drop the Milo's greedy character side.. he is dead now...

*repeats as a mantra*
"I am batman and I have more money than I can spend, I am batman and I have more money than I can spend, I am batman and I have more money than I can spend...."

[thisisaspace]

Crom doesn't seem to have left a will at the fort, in fact, he's not even been to the room he's been assigned with.

As well as his apparent equipment, you also find a tattered and discoloured piece of parchment with a child's drawing on it. It seems to depict Crom holding hands with a little girl next to a bonfire.

[Talvara]

Thorik

Those that died on the last expedition, Crom. Grognack and Baz were cremated with a brief but memorable ((memorable for Thorik atleast.)) on the site of the farmstead, The pire burned brightly asif it was fueled with the fighting spirit that inhabited the three as they fell on the battleground. Taking whatever of value and the animals the survivors then set off to find Barina and to pick up the corpses of those that they sought to avenge. bringing them back to be burried near the fort, on a nice patch of hollowed ground.

With the deceased dead and burried Thorik says his farwells to bruce for now, and informs him that he will be in the last stop this evening again.

Once again opening a tab. to drink and remember the dead. "I swear Evric, this northern frontier, It must be a goldmine for ya..." Substracting 5 GP from my sheet.

[Another_Poet]

Barina Erzebet Bela

When Barina is revived she doesn't know where she is.

"Wh- What happened?"

Once it is explained to her she holds back tears and falls over herself apologising. "I... It looked like a death trap in there. I thought you would all run! Why would you go in there??"

But, she puts the blame squarely on herself. "I guess this is nothing like I thought it would be. I'm sorry. Maybe I'm not meant to be an adventurer..."

That night she does not join the others for drinking, but instead stays in her room.

[Morbius]

Bruce joins Thorik in his 'drinking to remember the dead night', even if he knew the two barbarians and the other mage so briefly, let alone the original expedition. He had never seem another person die in front of him like that and it shaken him.

Earlier that day after the fight when they saw the crazy woman in the distance they set out to check her, she seemed to be lying on her mule, hit on her back several times as she tried to flee the battle, Bruce looked at the attack dogs, unharmed, they would certainly have avoided the other wizard from taking the killing blows from the goblins had she sent them first, perhaps also drawing enough arrows to avoid the furious caster as well from dying and who knows if they could make it in time to save the barbarian on top of the walls.

Thorik had to hold Bruce's hand for he was about to impale that woman with his bayonet, that woman that probably costed the life of 3 men. One of witch died while following his instructions, he never knew if he could forgive himself. He never imagined that a creature that small could avoid the hold of one big such as the barbarian, and he knew the others would not dare to shoot while their leader was so close to him.

On the next day Bruce awoke during lunch time, he was in much worse shape than the dwarf, the spent the rest of the day talking about loot and seemed that they agree that the crazy woman would get no share of what they and the deceased fought so hard to achieve. He smiled, he knew that he would be able to further his studies a lot with the money they would get from those items.

The dwarf also mentioned something about a kobold meeting, Bruce was not eager to fight some kobolds right now but he would listen to what the dwarf had to say.

[Another_Poet]

Barina

While Bruce is making wild guesses at what the dogs might or might not have done, the hapless Barina is asleep.

While her comrades split up the treasure she risked her life for, like a gang of thieves with no honour, she tosses and turns in fitful dreams. She knows nothing of their treachery.

At lunch the next day is told of their decision, and naively she hangs her head in shame. "That's fine," she says. "I don't deserve it anyway. Besides, I have enough to get buy. I'm sure I'll be fine."

She spends the day at Rovard's grave.

[Talvara]

Thorik

Thorik politely knocks on the Primates door. "Sir Hal? It's Thorik, I wanted ta share some information with ya."

incase the primate actually lets the dwarf in (afterall he has had some bad exeriences with 'other' adventurers) Thorik will continue to clearify his visit.

"I know, I avn't visited ya before, but right now... I'm prettymuch tha only one o us with any experienced left, So I figured it was me responsibilty ta let ya know about the goblin camp we found an cleared in one o tha farmsteads"

The dwarf then shows the primate the farmstead on the map, and gives some details about the number of goblins they found. the number that ran away, why he and the others went there Etc.

"We lost some good men clearin tha place... I believe tha this farm was inside tha forts patrol perimiter, Anyway I hope tha knowin this can be of use to ya, If theres anything ya need done but cannay spare the soldiers on let me know, I consider this fort to be me 'ome, an ill do what I can ta protect it."

The dwarf excuses himself and leaves to find Barina.

"I'm glad ure still alive Lass. you were lucky bruce an me could still see ya in the distance, I assumed ya ran all the way back to tha fort really. Anyway I trust ure wounds are healin up nicely?" Thorik pauzes for a moment "Earlier ya asked me why we went in there... well... After they tossed tha flames at us we had ta make a quick decision, Brave Crom charged ahead, and at that time tha only remainin option for me was ta stick by 'is side. We fight fer our own reasons... mine is ta try an protect those tha stand with me and share my fate." Thorik Pauzes again for a moment and the look on his face becomes more stern. "Please think hard if ya want ta go out there into tha frontier again. If ya decide ta go, Think about those that share their fate with ya. an what their efforts are worth"

[Kyouhen]

Osworth

Osworth, busying himself becoming acquainted with the graves of the fallen (and planting a few harmless plants he found growing around the fort, what else would he be doing in a graveyard with a shovel?) notices Barina at Rovard's grave.

"Why hello there, didn't think there would be any company around here today." He pauses for a moment to take a look at all the graves. "There's quite a few of them aren't there? This place looks to be a regular death trap. Who's this one?" He points his shovel at Rovard's grave.

[Another_Poet]

Barina

Even when the dwarf is being stern, Barina seems to find some comfort in his presence. "I didn't mean to leave anyone, Thorik. It's just.... well, Rovard's journals say to fall back against well-emplaced forces. But that would've killed Crom. Bur Crom charged ahead when he shouldn't have and... well, it was so confusing. How can I make choices with people's lives?"

"I need someone to show me what to do..."

* * * * * * * * *

Later out at the graveyard Barina seems surprised to see anyone else around.

"Oh, hello there," she says. She tries to sound like she hasn't been crying. Luckily her black veil hides it well. "That's... that's my fiance, Sir Rovard d'Boulve."

She introduces herself with a curtsy and tells the newcomer all about Rovard's great exploits and how for a short time, he ruled the frontier by sword and assinine steed.

"He was the only one who understood me. Oh, I wish there was some way to bring him back."

[Kyouhen]

Osworth

Osworth lets out a whistle as Barina finishes her story and makes a mental note to save this corpse for later. Raising someone that powerful could get him quite a nice shield. He'd have to be careful though, wouldn't want Barina to figure out that it's her fiancee following him around... That would lead to some unwanted questions.

"Well, I'm sure a warrior of his calibre would be given access to the most comfortable places the afterlife can offer. It is a shame that there are no clerics here capable of bringing him back, though. Perhaps in time it will be possible. I might even be convinced to do it myself, but I have quite a bit of work to do before I can achieve that level of power."

[The Bellmaker]

A day after the party returned from the farmstead, a figure rode into the fort. A heavily armoured man, whose shield was, rather than bearing the standard heraldry that would have been expected, or even being unadorned, was painted black, with a silver Death's Head in the upper left quarter.

The man was fairly unremarkable, but for his face. It was scarred across most of the right side, and when he drew close enough, it was evident that he bore the murder-mark.

He is not very sociable, the first day in. As a matter of fact, all you really know about him is his name. Soterios Johnson.

[Morbius]

Bruce ponders about what the group did that day in the kobold meeting, he wonders if they took a larger step than they could, he wonders how much work it will take to get the castle at working condition not to mention how much money. Bruce thinks about how long it will take for they kobolds to backstab them, for what he heard there is only one safe way out of the castle. The kobold general or whatever he was right... the ruins of old castles in the frontier were not much more than a 'hole in the ground', even if their people could retreat to that place in case of a deadly threat. And when the kobolds find out that they would have to mine their way to the armory and set up traps and what else... they would not be happy, perhaps even feel betrayed... indeed finding a alternate escape route would be essential... perhaps a invisibility scroll would do the trick, it would be somewhat expensive but... better safe than sorry...

Another implication would be the soldiers, what would the primate do once he found out? Also what would happen if the adventurers found a group of wounded soldiers in the frontier and the only safe place to take were the castle?

Of course, on the other side perhaps this do could work at least for a while it would be nice to have an advanced post in the frontier, a safe haven and perhaps some allies to face the goblins and gnolls. The goblins in the frontier were fierce enough, Bruce could only imagine how much of a threat would be gnolls be.

On the next day Bruce and the others left to find the costs of a door large enough to be placed in the castle and if it could be made in 10 days. He also checked for the price and availability of mining gear, provisions and perhaps the odd small weapon for their new 'allies' and grinned as he though that most of those small sized weapon were taken from the cold dead hands of defeated goblins from the frontier (and probably kobolds as well)

Finally Bruce let's his friends to know that he is becoming more and more confident in his magical skills and noon he will probably be able to craft simple magical trinkets such as protection amulets and clothing and he asks them if he should help the kobolds with such items as well, as long as they provide the needed material components as well as soul energy (aka XP) or if he should leave such luxury only to the imperial side of the alliance.

((max the question is instead of buying X picks and Y shovels and whatever could you just set a price for the gear for a job such as excavating the tunneland add enough for crafting let's start with 5 simple pit traps perhaps?))

[Another_Poet]

Barina

Upon returning to the fort, Barina spends very little time with the others. She seems to keep to herself.

After burying the five undead rabbit corpses in a pentagram around Rovard's grave, she stops spending so much time at the cemetery. It seems she is getting over the loss of her beloved. However, she is still outside the fort all the time. She has thrown herself wholeheartedly into training her dog, Bingo, nonstop in the hope of getting him to be a reliable bloodhound. As a master tracker herself, she figures this will be easy...

[roll0] ((Looking to forget Seek and learn Track, DC is 20, time is 1 week.))

...and it is! Soon she can follow the Fort patrols around, find game near the fort and even figure out which building one of the other adventurers is in just by following Bingo's nose. Of course, she doesn't neglect Jacquelyne or B-SOS either, keeping the two animals with her at all times.

She writes the story of the most recent expedition into the chronicles, reconstructing it as best she can from Soterios and Bruce. Her version says that she was picked up and carried a short distance by a giant bird which she fended off. She believes the bird was sent by the dryads to punish her for lighting a torch near the circle, and she feels blessed to have escaped with her life.


Barina writes what really happened in a private document and stores it in her room. She includes every detail she knows. In the event of her death, she doesn't want the information to be lost to future explorers.

She hadrly talks to anyone, even Thorik. She likes the dwarf but he has been awfully stern with her lately. However if Osworth approaches her she will talk openly with him and maybe even hint that something strange happened at the Circle.

[Morbius]

After a flaming argument with Soterios about Bruce being a craven and Soterios having no excuse for no replying to him (something about he not remembering Bruce calling him probably). Bruce listened to Barina’s history, he wondered for a long time about what kind of ‘bird’ could be so powerful as to dispel magics and attack in total darkness, he could only think that it was a dragon, maybe the tales about dragons living on the mountains were true, maybe one of them moved away from his ambient for some reason and decided to play with the group or even try to eat them, but Bruce didn’t believe that Barina could fend of a dragon by herself, not even a young one, so it was probably just some kind of prank, or maybe it was no dragon, but some caster mounted on a flying creature still, not less frightening than a young dragon.

He also wondered if the door the placed in the castle would still be there when they came back in a month…

On the following day as he finally had some free time Bruce pestered the soldiers until they directed him to a wizard from the military that agreed to teach him a particular spell on his day off… for a small fee of course, as most wizards ask from anyone trying to study their precious notes. Then he made a quick visit to the jeweler and since them has been walking around with a new piece of jewelry…

The next two weeks he spent almost all the time locked in the damp room the adventurer’s in the fort called ‘library’, studying the spellbooks that were available there to anyone for no charge.

In the end of two weeks he emerged, somewhat more thin and bony than when he started his research, but still he had a large grin on his face, he deciphered most of what he tried to study and his spellbook was more complete.

Then he mentioned during dinner in the Last Stop that he was also going to get a new pet and that he though he could safely create minor magic trinkets (cloak of resistance and amulet of natural armor anyone?) and make any of their items shine in the darkness… as long as they paid the costs of such tasks...

[Fri]

Nobody really noticed when or how did he get there, but a pale, young man with dishevelled hair and dark circles around his eyes sat in the corner of the tavern, covered with a dirty leather cloak. His voice slightly shivers as he talked to his big boar-hunter dog.

"Don't worry Fluffy, we're save here." he said, slightly crackling. "Th... though, we must get a job soon if we still want to live in this big, safe, warm, place, that's so full of people. And soon, we can afford a house in the big city...."

The big old dog simply scratched its ear and yawned.

"Ss... so. Mr Bartender. Do you think anyone here need a tracker or bowman of some sort?" he asked the Bartender "Preferably a large group..."

[Morbius]

Bruce

Bruce decides to take a walk after spending so much time locked in his room, as not one else was around or available he finds Barina and leave to patrol the area near the fort.

Several hours late the two of them return covered in mud and with one of Barina’s dogs dead. They were carrying a dead wolf and some animal in a bag. Their first stop is Vilize where they present him with a earthy weasel of sorts that can manipulate earth, Bruce immediately thinks about it and asks from Vilize if there is any way to train, rear or control such creature and explains that there is a certain collapsed tunnel that needs cleaning and it would help a lot, without going much on detail about where and why (assuming he does not know about the castle). He takes the money for the creature but promises to Vilize a compensation if such creature, after being trained, could be borrowed to the adventurers for some days (assuming it’s even possible to rear it).
As Vilize shows no interest on the dead wolf Bruce explains in detail about this particular pack of wolves that seems to be targeting the adventurers for some reason and asks if Vilize could think about some reason for that to be happening…

[slimy_te_t_cles]

An unconscious dishevelled looking dwarf is carted into Fort Tuldur by a weary looking local.

Clarence heads straight to the tavern, strides up to the bar, and asks "Where is the action to be found laddie, I've finished my drink offering to Hieronious, and am ready to hurt some gnolls" (the Barkeep turns away, revolted at the foul stench and bad manner, quickly handing Clarence a written note and shooing him toward the door), Clarence announces loudly to the tavern, "next round's on me!", before handing the Barkeep 4 silver pieces. He then look at the letter, and, unable to read it, heads off toward an important looking guard barracks.
(note: 4 sp taken of char sheet)

After being redirected multiple times by a bureaucrat named Matt Toollster, Clarence decided to have a sleep and return to try again another day :)

[Talvara]

Thorik

Normally Thorik would have been delighted to see a new dwarf in the fort, but today as the group rode in with their hard earned war loot he had other things on his mind. His chest felt asif it was still smouldering and itching like crazy. The dwarf pondered if his chesthair would ever regrow ontop of all those soon to be scars.

As he gave his farwells to the party for their RnR Thorik returned to his humble cellar where he proceded to wash his face and took a good long look at his newest markings. The mark itself wasn't what had shaken the dwarf, but the duties and consequences that came with it certainly did their job of inducing a sort of melancholic feeling... "what if somebody broke the agreement...", "what if the kobolds have more conditions to ask...", "what if the Primarch learnt of this packt..." The questions kept on poring in.

For several hours Thorik layed on his human sized bed gazing at the ceiling untill he could take it no more.

The Dwarf put on his comfortable clothes and roamed the shops and stalls to find himself a peticular aquisition. With a rectangular shaped parcell he then proceeded to the Adventurers fund and library. He pulled up the table and layed down a book with leather binding and a simple lock.

with a quil, devine patience and his best writing he Signed the first page


"Guild of northern Heroes."
Guild Roster.

The next three pages were left empty for a foreword that the dwarf intended to add later, And thus on the fifth page Thorik made his mark, "Thorik Stonewell, Son of Urist". And beneath that in braquettes "Dwarf, First Oathskeeper"

Thorik looked over his handwriting and smiled with a jobwell done as he layed the book aside to dry and pulled out a seperate piece of parchment, Onwhich he enclosed the deal the group had made with the kobolds, The perks, The responsibilities and... the punishment. he finishes off the parchment with: "All those that sign the Guild Roster vow to uphold these agreements and accept punishment when these agreements are broken by their hand."

With a stern look he then included the loose parchment into the guild roster, and locked the book...

...

Over the next few days Thorik visits those that have joined him on the frontier and while tending their wounds and afflictions showes them the Guild Roster and urges them to sign it.

Thorik even stops by Barina's lodgings to make sure her dogs wounds heal up nicely.

He also looks up the new dwarf in town and welcomes him...

"Welcome ta the frontier mate, I dun think I've seen another Dwarf crazy enough ta brave tha frontier, Haha. Its good ta see another O me kin out 'ere." In a different tone Thorik later urges the new Dwarf to seek him out in private so that he can explain the Kobold treaty. and if he wishes can Sign his name into the Roster.

[Another_Poet]

Thorik even stops by Barina's lodgings to make sure her dogs wounds heal up nicely.

Barina

Barina welcomes the dwarf into her room and makes a big deal over his tattoo marking, asking how they are healing and if she can do anything to help.

When she sees the roster she smiles. She eagerly signs her name on the roster: Barina Erzsébet Béla. She feels like she really accomplished something, because she had been one of the strongest advocates of the kobold treaty.

"Thorik, I'm really glad they chose you as the oathskeeper... I think you'll do a better job than anyone else could. I'm sorry you had to go through that awful tattooing. I probably wouldn't even have survived it..."

A little bit of her old shyness touches her voice, but in a moment it is gone and replaced with the fiery new confidence she has acquired over the preceding months.

"The Annals tell of another intact castle, this one in or near gnoll territory. There are even some chalk markers showing the way. Wanna go claim it? I bet we can kill some slavers!" She thinks of the poor baby kobolds and smiles a wicked wicked smile under her veil.

[TrenchcoatJesus]

Rane

Rane arrives at the fort, a weary and downcast figure hunched over in his saddle. He appears more like a refugee than an adventurer, though with what the guards have seen pass for "adventurers" lately, they knew better than to question him and allowed him through. After finding refuge for his horse in the stables, Rane asks around until he is directed to the inn, which he half-heartedly ambles toward with a heavy reliance upon his staff.

"Water, if it's clean," the young man asks Evric, "or whatever you have that is if it isn't." Rane wasn't entirely sure what to expect from an inn made from a former stable, but he figured it wiser to err on the side of caution.

Evric frowns, then gives Rane water... in a bucket, asking "Would you like some hay with that?" After a short pause, he laughs and just gives him a cup. Rane chuckles, then nods his thanks.

After arranging food and lodging for himself and his horse (marking off 2 days' worth - 7 sp), Rane spends much of his time slumped over a barstool. Feigning weariness, drunkenness, or both, he quietly takes in the tales and gossip of those around him. Eventually he decides to ask some questions of his own of the barkeep.

"I'm just a humble servant here to collect knowledge of the frontier for my master," the haggard youth explains, "is there perhaps a scholar here I could speak with? One who has some experience in the wilds and yet still stands?"

Evric points towards a markedly battle-worn dwarf, "that dwarf over there. Thorik be his name. Fits the "still standing" part, leastways."

Rane takes a look the dwarf's way then turns back towards Evric. "He doesn't seem much of the scholarly type, but if he's experienced I am sure I could learn something of value. Are there none others that pursue a dedication to knowledge here? This task may take a bit of time if I am to do all the scribing of accounts myself." the youth appears somewhat worried after noting the overall appearance of the dwarf.

Evric thinks, then shrugs. "Used to have that Lars fellow... but he died. You could always ask the one they call Bruce - you can always see him scribbling things on scrolls and whatnot - but he hasn't been here nearly as long as Thorik was."

Rane rubs his chin in thought, then nods, "I think I'll try this Bruce fellow first. Many thanks," the youth offers a slight bow and 2 silver for the drink.

***

Later that evening, Rane knocks on the door of Bruce's room. "Come in," Bruce says, muttering something about interruptions under his breath.

The disheveled youth bows slightly to the robed man before speaking, "I hear brave souls are harder and harder to find out here. I seem to have a similar problem with coin... I'm willing to act as a bodyguard for someone with a level head - in exchange for a steady income."

"Well, right now I am adventuring with a crazy woman that probably sleeps with animals, a cowardly archer that runs at the first sign of danger and a knight that can only be describled as crazy, yeah, sure, I could use someone more reliable. I mean Thorik is not always around. Thorik is a dwarven cleric of Moradin by the way, and I consider him a good friend of mine... and of course you would get a fair share of the profit"

Rane nods, taking in the man's words carefully. After a short pause he chips in, "I'm not looking to split the spoils, I just believe in an honest coin for honest work"

"Sorry boy, that is not the way things work around here, you risk your neck so you get a share of the profits (if any), of course since you seem to be somewhat in more need than others I can do this, if after your expenses you get less than 50 gold from your first expedition I will pay the difference for you."

Rane smirks, "As you said yourself the company you keep can be described as crazy. I'm not about to risk my neck for their's if it comes right down to it - I hardly know anyone out here yet - but I am willing to risk it for your's for a small fee. My terms are simple: I'm not about to stir trouble for trouble's sake, but if trouble finds you it'll have to go through me first." Rane pauses in brief reflection, "But I've just proved another point - you hardly know me yet either. In that case, how does 40 gold sound for the first job? My reward will be more of exploring the frontier in the first place. Half before the expedition, and half upon a safe return."

Bruce seems to pause, thinking through the youth's offer before replying with a sigh, "As I said... Raine, right? Well as I said Raine I can't take someone with me and say that I will take his loot and pay him only 40 gold pieces, after our last expedition we returned with almost 300 gold peices each. Of course sometimes there's less on less fortunate expeditions - that's why I am saying that if we end in a failed expedition and without loot I will pay you 50 gold pieces plus expenses if you do a good job and keep us both alive. Of course I don't expect you to throw your life away if one of the others does something stupid, but if you do your job, even if we come back with nothing, you will get a small compensation"

Rane thinks over this for a moment. After a pause he grins, "I'm not here for the money. And to be honest, I'm not here to throw my fate around casually as though I've 8 more to spare. I don't believe any of the loot you may come across will bear my name, and I'd rather play bodyguard than hero. If you feel I'm worth more than my stated price, there are other ways in which you can reward me." Rane gestures towards the arcane writings Bruce appears to have been studying. Taking a breath, he continues, "If not, I don't think 20 coin is too steep a price to make up your mind about me."

After another sigh, Bruce nods, "Very well, so let me check your equipment, where is your armor and sword?"

Rane bows at this question before he stiffens, takes on a practised posture unlike that of when he walked in (which resembled more of a shambling gait than anything else, and also as though he had been favoring his left leg) and rather than leaning on his quarterstaff which he had done before, steps back and examines the room. Noting an unattended chair, Rane draws his quarterstaff back behind him. With a single deft motion, the youth smashes the nearby chair.

[roll0]

The chair makes a loud cracking noise as the whole of it shudders in recoil of the blow. Though it still stands, it appears just barely so - it is unlikely the chair will ever bear any weight again; indeed one might even say it is on its last legs. [Rane later explains the unfortunate accident of him tripping over his own staff to Evric, and humbly apologizes offering to pay for its replacement. -2 gp taken off sheet]

Bruce arcs a brow, "Yeah, I think that will do... but we still need to do something about that lack of armor of yours"

Rane rubs his chin thoughtfully for a moment before shrugging, "I'm pretty good on my feet. I fear armor would hinder more than help. In my case, a good offense is the best defense - but it's hardly an impenetrable defense," the youth's brow furrows slightly at this.

"Ever heard of Mithral? It may help you more than you think... but in the meantime I can try to do something about that. For now, I will go along with what you propose, but we will have to talk about this later, anyway don't comment this deal to the other adventurers"

Rane nods, "I'll leave it to you, then. One other thing: If I came across some info or maps of the frontier from the other adventurers around this town, what would it be worth to you and the group? I might be able to set up some deals that could save us some time and headache."

"We are always interested. Of course I am more interested in things related to magic but anything valuable would interest the group"

"Alright. Suppose I'll retire for now, and maybe tomorrow you can tell me more about this upcoming expedition?"

"Sure... Good night, then"

Rane nods, "Take care" before resuming his sulking posture and feigned reliance on his quarterstaff for support and exits the man's room.

***

The following day, after a brief visit to check on his horse, Rane spends much of the day once more hunched over a barstool. His appearance is better suited to a beggar, but Evric leaves him be, so he must be a paying customer. He keeps his ears open, hoping to make note of any leads that might pass through the patrons' mouths.

-TcJ

((P.S. Many thanks to Max and Morbius for their replies. All quotes from their characters (and some of the text around it) is blamed on credited directly to them))

[slimy_te_t_cles]

Clarence greets Thorik with a "what the h... oh, um hiya" before hastily putting some clothes on.
"Forgive me, I been having nightmares bout ma clan. Say, what d'ya mean crazy enough.... Say, when I'm done with, y'know, settling and stuff, I'd be happy ta join yous, though you'll have ta sign ya book thing for me, didn't have much use for letters where I came from, y'know"

[Talvara]

Thorik

Seeing the nacked/nearly nacked dwarf answer the door Thorik is transported back into his memories of 'Wrestling Time!' back when he was training with his clan's militia.

needless to say, the dwarven cleric looks away with a smile.

"Well... tha frontier is a crazy place. Mind controllin worms... gnoll slavers... magically twisted beasts, I'ts already claimed many who dared ta venture out before us..." Thorik looks at the new dwarf with a look of compassion and understanding begins to speak in dwarven [dwarven]"yes, I know all to well the feelings that being locked off from your kin give... I know I haven't been exciled, yet somehow... it feels the same... the nightmares I pray that they will pass, but I fear that they will not" Thorik then gives a smile [dwarven]"Being out there with men and women who gladly share their fate with yours keeps your mind off the lonelyness tough" Thoriks smile then turns into a painfull almost manical expression, [dwarven]"The headaches they cause tough... by the all fathers beard... not even our strongest ales can rival that!"

"Its good ta meet ya Clarence... Come find me when ure ready ta set out an ill help ya place ure name... and explain what it means ta 'ave ure name in the book"

With a short blessing from Moradin, Thorik then leaves Clarence to his settling in

[Mourdos]

A party rides out into the frontier for loot and fights. They do not return. Those missing are Bruce, Rane, Kaito and Osworth. They had with them the wand of CLW from the fund.

(( This probably shouldn't be taken note of until a few days before the next expedition is due ))

[Morbius]

A Bruce smile as Thorik appear and asks him to sign the Guild Roster, even if he is still unease about allying with those creatures. He pities the dwarf for all the conflict that he must be feeling about the duties that have been dropped on him.

*some time later*

Bruce and the group returns from the expedition into gnoll territory without major loses, one of Barina’s dog and perhaps some their self esteem. In the night they make plans to tell their kobold allies about the fortress.

Then Bruce joins yet another expedition that was going to explore the polluted river. Initially they return in the following day to fetch the fund’s healing wand that Osworth forgot to take. During the night Bruce mentions to Barina that they found near the river, by a strange entangling grass the same earthy weasels he once found with her near the fort. And they even killed his brand new warhorse! ((that's why we can't have anything nice...))

The group then decided to give another try at the river, now better prepared. So far several days passed without their return…


((BTW if Bruce's gear are ever to be found he donates everything to the fund, acording to his will))

In the meantime an big (for a dwarf) armored dwarf arrives at the fort...

[Talvara]

Thorik

Thorik lumbered about the fort in his 'casual wear' which for Thorik meant about half of his banded mail worn.

The dwarf didn't go shopping very often, but with some confidence he stepped into the blackhamer forge, and politely gets the attention of the woman tending the forge.

"I know I 'avent come in ere alot lately, but I bought this fine banded mail offa ya a while ago... an I must say. It 'as served me tremendously well! I've been thinkin tough... My upbringin has tought me a bit about armors an all, an I can tell... theres definetly the hand o a master smith in this one, are you... tha smith by any chance?" Thorik smiles at the halfling lady.

Incase she is the smith --> "I knew it!" Thorik gets visually excited "I've saved up a nice stash o gold from tha work i've done on tha frontier. an I really would like ta have a custom set of Fullplate made, an not just some fullplate Ha! ... I wan't one made by a master smith!" The dwarf calmes down a little again "Would ya lend me ure skills an take on this lil project?"

if she Agrees --> "Great! haha!" Thorik looks insightfull for a moment... and then with an emberassed expression extends his hand, "I'm Thorik..."

He then asks about the costs, and the time it will take to forge such a masterpiece ((almost needless to say... Thorik is looking to buy a masterwork Full plate))

[Another_Poet]

Barina

Barina hadn't minded handing over the healing wand to Osworth - after all, it wasn't hers. But when the expedition didn't return on time her first thought was how expensive the wand was, and whether they'd find it if the expedition was destroyed.

She feels guilty for thinking of this before her friends, and she considers taking her customary walk in the graveyard... but with Osworth on the list of those gone, it would be all the more painful to go there.

After some debate she goes anyway, and water's the priest's flowers and herbs for him. Her dogs are in a playful mood, but they play too rough now, having been in so many fights lately.

Finally she goes to talk to Thorik.

"Thorik, greetings... you've probably heard about Bruce's expedition going missing by now..." She seems to assume that Bruce was the leader. "I know there are other expeditions planned right now, but I really think we should cancel them and form a search party. Even if there is just one survivor, it's worth it... and Bruce has managed to cross the frontier on his own and survive in the past. Any one of them could be out there."

[Fri]

Renard spent the rest of the week huddled in his room, trying to regain his health.

"Fluffy... I guess you're hunting boar with the old man there I guess. Though, I thought you're going to die in front of the fireplace, sleeping."

He hadn't finished mourning when he heard a news about another adventuring party that never come back to the fort. And Bruce the magician is in that party.

"The frontier is really dangerous..." he said to himself. "But this is the fastest way to get money..."

After he felt better, he spent his time on the fort's wall, looking at the wilderness far away.

[TrenchcoatJesus]

A large brute of a man arrives at the fort on foot, accompanied by a packmule. By the look of the mule, it would seem it could very likely hold all of the man's belongings. His first destination is the Blackhammer Forge, at which he seeks employment as a journeyman bowyer. ((I'm not too picky on how it's handled, or if she says no -- point is he's at least trying to have a day job :smallamused:))

After some asking around, and taking special interest in the mention of gnoll activity, Murdoch buys mapping supplies and starts inquiring of the local adventurers to see who would be interested in a joint venture to start mapping the frontier in more detail. ((4x parchment (8 sp), scroll case (1 gp), inkpen (2 sp) marked off on sheet))

-TcJ

[Mythestopheles]

Feredir steps out of the forest to view the Fort. he is on foot, with a dark furred wolf silent at his side. "So this is the fort, not quite what I expected. I almost thought they'd be under siege when I arrived, eh Eyolf? he looks down to his wolf. Feredir walks inside, not responding to anyone more than nessisary. He positions himself in an out of the way corner with a view of the gate and awaits further orders.

[thisisaspace]

((this thread is for IC discussion only, if you have to speak out of character here, put it in brackets. Anyway, It'll be up to Max if you can choose the feats your companion comes with at level 1.))

[Morbius]

(a little late but)
Morbius
An armored dwarf arrives at the fort, he does not ride a mount but doesn’t seem tired at all from the long travel. The guards notice the symbol of St. Cuthbert as the dwarf arrives at the gates and greets them. After asking for directions he goes to the last stop where he overhear some adventurer’s speak about some adventurer’s fund and decides to take a look at it. After some browsing he takes a new armor set and reminds himself to thank whoever is in charge of it later. He then goes back to the tavern and tries to find any group that is heading into the frontier.

[Talvara]

Thorik

as Barina made her plee, Thoriks head hang a little with the reminder of those gone, but the head was also shaking in a negative sense...

"Ya know as well as me that they'll be dead... Last time we went chasing after tha dead we lost good men, good men tha dinnay 'ave anything to do with them matter"

the dwarf pauzes "I'm sorry lass, I dun think we can afford going after them at this point. the creatures that be warped with magic 'ave proven themselves equally dangerous as valuable"

[Another_Poet]

Barina

Barina nods sadly at the wisdom of Thorik's answer. But the next day she hears that two of the newcomers, Morbius and Murdoch are going on a short trip to patrol the borders and get a sense of the frontier. She volunteers to come along.

Although the group does head westerly, she is unable to convince them that they should go all the way to the Vartva and look for clues as to the previous party. Still, just spending time out on the wilderland again seems to refresh her with new energy. When she returns to the fort she, and her faithful pup Bingo, both seem livelier than ever.

She immediately agrees to go on a second such patrol the next day.

[thisisaspace]

Malphas arrived at the fort recently. You might have met him when he first arrived here, asking for a person called Rufus. Unfortunately it seems not many of the people still around have actually met this person, but it seems Malphas has found his way to the Chronicles, and then the graveyard.

For the first few days Malphas can be found drinking by Rufus' grave during the late morning. Though he has on several occasions proclaimed his anger at the fact that Rufus' remains aren't actually there and he's just mourning over a slab of rock, he continued to come to the graveyard every morning since he got here. He has stopped the drinking however, after one afternoon when he's just had a few too many chugs of rum, went on to insult a Tuldur guard. He was kept in the dungeon for a day to "cool off".

Malphas has a rather tall and gaunt appearance, with pale complexion to match. He bears a few scars and animal bites on his body, not to mention a few tattoos that he's not too shy to show.

[Another_Poet]

Barina

Barina finds Malphas at the graveyard one day.

"You knew him, huh?" She sits down beside him near Rufus' grave.

"He was a great adventurer... he did more out there than most of us."


I don't actually remember whether Rufus and Barina ever met in person, so fill in here with either, "Yeah I was there when..." or "I read in the Chronicles that he..." as you like.

After talking a bit about Rufus, Barina points towards Rovard's grave. "That was my fiancee, over there. Now I ride his steed into battle in his place. It seems everyone I've met, except Thorik, is either buried here or lost in the Frontier..."

She tells him about the missing expedition from earlier that week and how no one will go on a rescue mission.

[thisisaspace]

((You came in when I was playing Lars, so Rufus would have been long dead at that point))

"He was a fool," Malphas snarled at Rufus' grave, "and if you're clever, you'll start worrying about your own hide than someone else's. Let them rescue themselves, or die trying."

He stands up to face Barina properly.
"Your name is Barina, right? I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Malphas."

[Another_Poet]

Barina

Barina curtsies.

"Master Malphas, what brought you all the way out here to Fort Tulder?"

[thisisaspace]

"Oh, you know, fame, fortune. Stuff like that." He doesn't sound terribly convincing.

"Me and Rufus also go back a long way, was rather looking forward to..."
"Anyway, I think I've had enough of wallowing in grief. I can handle a weapon, so if you're planning on some bloodshed in the near future, call me out."

[Another_Poet]

Barina

"Well, there's always plenty of that. We just finished a couple of routine patrols. There might be more in the next week or so for you to join. I might take a break from those for a while... they eat up resources and don't tend to pay out much. I need some new gear, so I'm going to spend some time training and then try to set up a more ambitious expedition."

[TrenchcoatJesus]

Arriving back at the fort following a successful ousting of a band of goblins from one of the Frontier's abandoned farmsteads, Murdoch, Malphas, Thorik and Morbius can be seen accompanying Murdoch's mule, which has been loaded high with loot from the excursion. Heading immediately to the adventurers' commons, it seems to take a while for the group to figure out exactly how to split up the sheer volume of loot, and generally entails many trips between the Adventurer's Fund holdings as well as the numerous merchant stalls.

After the arduous task has finally been completed, and each of the four gets their completed share, Murdoch happens upon the realization that he has made more gold in a single day than he could have hoped to have made in his entire life. Although this troubles him on multiple levels, he can't help but feel he has done right by ousting the goblins and relieving them of their ill-gotten gains.

Investing the better part of his share into new arms and armor, Murdoch spends several hours at the armory picking out a superior quality buckler, a new set of armor, and most importantly a new bow. Although he had felt a certain attachment to the bow he had made of his own two hands, he could not question the comparison when he saw the work of a true master. For him to make a bow of such quality would take him months, probably half a year or more, and the cost in materials alone may have ended up costing him more than the bow itself was worth.

He bought it.

After he bought it, he began to question his worth as a bowyer, and decides to spend the remainder of his gold on the tools and supplies to better himself at his craft. In the days following his return to Fort Tulder, he occupies much of his time in his room, using a table as a workbench and plying his craft to create a new bow of his own.

-TcJ

((P.S. Purchases made:

Items sold (to merchants):
Composite Longbow [+50 gp]
Studded Leather [+12.5 gp]
Buckler [+7.5 gp]

Items bought:
Masterwork Composite Longbow with +2 Strength Rating [-600 gp]
Masterwork Buckler [-165 gp]
Chain Shirt [-100 gp]
Masterwork Artisan's Tools (Bowmaking) [-55 gp]
Raw Materials (60x Arrows) [-1 gp]
Raw Materials (Masterwork Composite Longbow)* [-33.33 gp]
10 Days of Trail Rations (from Fund) [-2.5 gp]

New gold total: 26.87

*To create a masterwork version of an item, the normal item is created first, and the masterwork portion following it. Once the Composite Longbow is complete, new materials and new checks will be made for the Masterwork portion. Until both are complete, the bow will be unusable.

))

[Morbius]

As the group finishes dividing the loot Morbius goes to his room to set aside a few items to pay for the difference on his share at that moment he receives an unexpected package. It was from the last man the church appointed him to protect before he went to the frontier, who became his friend during over time. The package had a small parchment that simply said “Head you were going to the frontier and thought you could use a new weapon” and a bag… with three hundred gold pieces. Morbius looks at the great axe he bought from the fund and thinks “a little too late….” The he looks at the stuff he was gathering for the new weapon and laughs “…or maybe not, hehe”. Morbius then goes back to the Last stop and put most of that money to good use. After settling that matter he used the rest of the money to buy some small items and goes back to his room.

He thinks about how dangerous this place really is, that entire group of adventurers died to a goblin ambush, it was the occupation hazard he knew but still… Malphas himself almost died, if not for Murdoch’s Sharp shooting...

He should have taken the front, not allowed a fragile and weak human taken the front. It was his duty to protect them and he almost failed.

Morbius was also cursing his short legs, just having to protect people he usually never had to run after his enemies, they would come to him. He looked at his great axe and though “I bet I could sell this for a fast horse… but then again I really need to start to pay my debt to that fund”. And with that objective Morbius goes to the fund to leave his Masterwork great axe there.

On his way he talks mostly to himself "Maybe I should take a closer look at those kobolds, those poor sods will need help when the little treacherous creatures turn on them..."

[Talvara]

Thorik

The dwarf sat alone with a mug of cheap ale and his toughts. The new batch of adventurers seem to be to keen on the idea of the Kobold pact.

and really. he couldn't blame them, Espesially murdochs words were food for tought

Murdoch:"I'm not completely against the idea of fewer enemies, but are you sure alliance is the best move? I mean, the soldiers 'round here know about your treaty?"

Its true that Thorik has thought about the same problem and from the start it had unsettled him. his Duties as tender of wounds allowed him to shove the worries into a lone corner of his mind... but wasn't that the weak approach?

The actual oath making happened so fast... the pressure at the time was nerve wrecking. Didn't we go into this thing to fast? shouldn't we at least have learned the primarchs feelings? shouldn't we have done some research just whom we'd be linking our fate with.

Regardless, a vow was made. And Thorik wasn't the dwarf to break it.

----

Later Thorik aproached Barina, Who asside from Soterios (who went away for a while) was the only remaining witness of the pact and the main power behind driving it into existance.

In private The oathkeeper shared his worries. "The primarch and the soldiers 'ave been a safe 'aven fer those who walk the frontier ever since I can remember... The fact that we 'ave made a pact with perhaps one of their enemies troubles me..." the dwarf pauzes "I believe we ought ta strive to keep things open an 'onest... I wanted to 'ear ure toughts tough... since we surely are 'quite deep' in this mess, Regardless even if mistakes 'ave been made. its our responsibility to fix them to tha best o our effort"...

"Another thing that troubles me... is that we know little of just whom we've allied ourselves with... the kobolds.. what is their history... what are their customs... Skea'or seemed like a valiant Lizard which was why I trusted 'im enough ta move things forward an stand with 'im againt the gnolls... But there's troubles... 'ave we strayed to far from our beliefs in attempt to appease theirs?" Thorik looks troubled.

"I cannay break my oath, But we cannay stay on the path that we're on"

"Regardless... before we move things forward I'd like ta spend some time with the books to see if theres anything I can learn about whom we have made our pact"


OOC(I don't think we should move this forward untill Max is back, But I also felt it was important that these issues get adressed. They have been bugging my OOC and ive prettymuch ignored them IC, But truth of the matter is. We may be in over our heads. :) )

[Another_Poet]

Barina

Barina takes off her veil and folds it in her lap. She's a little surprised by Thorik's candid words. Normally she's in the opposite position of going to him for advice or moral support. Seeing the dwarf so worried now makes her sad, and it makes her want to help him somehow.

"Thorik, I trust your judgment. If you think we should tell the Primarch, I'll go with you and stand right beside you and help you tell him. At worst he might throw us out of the fort.... though there hasn't been a single kobold attack on any of the Fort patrols since we started our peace negotiations, so he might see the value of it. I hope he does."

She pauses, considering.

"As far as how good our allies are.... well, those kobolds have been true so far. The books of the annals are yours to read as much as you like. For now, I don't think we've promised too much. We've promised, what, one raid on gnolls? Some former adventurers might be in that fort to the west anyway, along with a lot of Castle Roisen treasure. We'd probably raid the place sooner or later even if we didn't have a Peace Treaty."

She puts an arm on Thorik's shoulder. "Look Thorik, I know it's not easy for you. You took on a major oath... but really, we all took it on. I'm in this with you, and we can't break our word now. If the kobolds give us a reason to do so, fine... but judging by how harshly the gnolls and goblins treat them, they are likely to be the most devoted allies we have ever had."

"If we treat them well, they will respect us. They've never been treated well before. This is our chance to prove the power of Good over trickery."


@ Talvara: How do you think we might be in over our heads? Did I miss something in one of the sessions I wasn't present for? Last I knew the kobolds hadn't asked anything more from us except one raid on gnolls and any small-sized weapons we could gather.

[Morbius]

And so... the group sets out to find the source of the undead that roams the fields North of Fort Tulder. Some days later the group returns, missing one party member, Barina.

The survivors explain that after being attacked by and armored Wolf and it’s band they decide to follow their tracks to end their menace as they have attacked adventurers and soldiers alike several times now. After several hours of travel the group gives up the pursuit as they discover the destination of the wolves, the White Tower Woods.

Unwilling to enter such dangerous place the group resumes the search for the undead and as they passed by a small Woods they find a group of kobolds hunting a Koteare. After disrupting their hunt by making too much noise they leave, then regret their decision and try to return and as usual screw up even more.

After that brief stop they resume once more their original quest and as it gets dark they find a road and make camp near it. In the morning the group realize that this is the Road to Katleen’s Crossing and that they are once again dangerously close to the White Tower Woods. Morbius, Thorik and Murdoch decide to return fearing they are too far away from the fort but Barina continues for a little more to scout what was ahead in the Road. The group makes camp and awaited, they hoped she'd return overnight, but at dawn the three altough hesistantly had to move on. Fearing that Barina wont return.


Barina is presumed dead.

[thisisaspace]

Over the past week, Malphas has been seen riding his horse a lot, which he's recently named Sid. Guards have reported Malphas and his horse following behind the guard's patrol routes about one or two hours after the patrol's departure, only to return at the first checkpoint. When asked by the officials, he confessed he's attempting to train his horse to track by scent.
"Sid here has a real talent. I'm ashamed that I could have missed it."
((Let me know if that's a problem))

[TrenchcoatJesus]

Following the group's return, Murdoch once again holes up in his room, presumably crafting. He's not to be seen except on few occasions when he leaves his room to get food - which he takes back to his room and eats there. Whatever thoughts he has he keeps to himself.


Murdoch's Thoughts:
Barina. Guess we shouldn't be expecting to ever see her again. Just like that, it's unbelievable. She had spirit, I can see why Thorik has grown attached to the adventurers out here. I can also see why he feels needed. Really though, isn't it my fault? I could blame Thorik, but that won't bring Barina back.

These young ones out here... they need more than Thorik's magic. They need leadership. They need someone who can reign in their spirit when they grow too restless. At first I thought it was hopeless to try to reign that lass in, but I hardly tried. Maybe if I had, she'd be back at the Fort right now, pouting and planning her next great adventure.

I don't rightly know if I'm the man for the job, but I can at least try. Thorik's probably better suited, he has the reputation around here for it, but he don't appear at all interested in leading. Maybe I'll just carve myself a reputation for keeping these kids alive. Maybe I'll just die trying. Either way, I guess there's work to be done if we're gonna try to hunt some gnolls.


The following night, Murdoch enters the tavern and addresses those there:
"I'm settin' out on a scoutin' mission tomorrow, and I'm lookin' fer able bodies to help. Our target's a path that's been said to lead to a gnoll fortification -- that's right, we're headed into gnoll country. The idea's to chart a clear path there, and get ourselves a better idea of the gnolls in the area.

Now, a couple things. This'll be gnoll country, and that means we could run into slavers. If possible we'll fight, but if not, I don't want anyone dragging their feet if we need to run. Pack light, be able to run if you need to. This here's a scouting mission, not a suicide one. If you got any misconceptions about that, I don't want yer help.

I'm lookin' fer trackers, and those with some experience in scouting. I've got the tools on hand to make ourselves a good map of the area, but we still need to find this path the last expedition found. In addition to this, we'll obviously need any muscle we can get. Gnolls are a bit like dogs.. pack animals. If we run into them, the more we got the better our chances are.

Lastly, I don't rightly care why you come - loot, fame, glory, boredom - choose your pick. But while you're out there, I don't want any questions being raised about what we're doin'. I'll let you know what we're doin', an' most of that involves staying alive. I'm not lookin' to give the gnolls half a second of hesitation, because they're not liable to pass that chance up.

If you got any problems followin' my lead, yer welcome to do as you see fit. I'm not yer commander, or yer mother, but hopefully you realize yer still important to me. If yer gonna abandon the group, you're putting everyone else in danger, and that doesn't sit well with me - especially in the Frontier. I'll be leavin' at first light, come an' see me or meet me at the gate iff'n yer fixin to come with."

-TcJ

[thisisaspace]

"I'm always ready for the threats of fatality, or worse, a blow to the ego. I'll see you then."

[Another_Poet]

Ilona

One afternoon a red horse can be seen on the road south of the fort, a woman in gleaming armour on its back.

She rides into the fort with a straight back. Her helmet is built like a mask, resembling the face of a hellhound or stylised dragon. She flips the mask up like a visor to reveal the face of a beautiful young maiden.

Checking her horse in at the stables, she first talks to the Primate, who takes no responsibility for the adventurers and refers her to the tavern.

She enters the seedy place with some reservations, but soon finds that the other explorers there are a friendly enough lot.

"I'm looking for a foolish girl, headstrong and not too wise for her age. The face of a toad, but a heart of purest silver. She goes by the name of Barina. Anyone know her?"

At the awkward silence that ensues, she adds: "Otherwise I wouldn't mind having a word or two with her gods-damned fool of a fiance, Rovard. Sound familiar? Anyone?"

[thisisaspace]

"You wanna see your friends? Sure, I'll show you to them."
Malphas leads the woman outside the tavern, and points toward the gate into the Frontiers.
"Your friend Barina's that way. Have fun finding her corpse. As for her fiancé, I think he's actually lucky enough to be in the cemetary."
He gives the lady a sturdy pat on the shoulder before he makes his way back inside the tavern.

[Another_Poet]

Ilona

Ilona seems more even-tempered than Barina. She makes an effort not to flinch at Malphas' abrupt news, or slap him. After a moment of staring out the gate she walks back into the tavern.

She sits down at Malphas' table. "That friend is actually my sister," she informs him. "Tell me what you know."

After hearing the whole story, she decides it behoves her to go after her sister and try to find news of her, hopefully bring her back alive and if nothing else... well, for now she'll hope she can bring her back alive.

She's disappointed that no one is launching a search party for Barina, but she can see these explorers are not exactly faring well. She decides to join the gnoll territory scouting mission, in the hopes of getting to know the area well enough to launch a rescue mission for Barina soon thereafter.

She decides to gear up, and drops a lot of coin into the Adventurers' Fund that she is told about.

Then she retires to Barina's room to read through the Annals that her sister kept. She's disappointed to see much of them written in Rovard's hand, but glad for the man's sense of military strategy. At least he had one good feature.

[thisisaspace]

After Malphas tells Ilona what he knows (which is not much, but at least he can point her in the right direction), and before Ilona excuses herself...

"So, was this just a family visit? The Fort's safe enough, but you still don't get many people coming here for holiday."
"I'm sorry about your sister by the way, and sorry if I came across as rude before. Most of us here are pretty much accustomed to death, or maybe we just try not to show it. I've not been here long, but I was used to the concept of mortality before I even got here."
Malphas takes a look at the patrons around him.
"Not that I'm the only one in that area, considering the kind of people that tries to make a living here."
"Look, I came here looking for someone that died here, too." He raised his glass of rum ready for a sip before he continues, now sounding a little more nervous than before, "So if you ever feel like talking about this with someone, or even to do something to take your mind of it, well, keep me in mind."

[Another_Poet]

Ilona

Ilona suspects that Malphas just wants to get into her garters, and she takes a dim view of his offer. But her courtly mannerism does not leave her.

"I am much moved by your offer, Mister Malphas. For the present I will be quite occupied with preparations, as rescuing my sister is of course my sole concern. And then, of course, I'll need to get her home for her wedding."

[TrenchcoatJesus]

After arriving safely back in Fort Tulder, Murdoch appears to be in high spirits. After seeking out Thorik and apparently having a long conversation with the seasoned dwarf, he once again makes a call for adventurers in the tavern, ambitiously planning the next expedition already.

Murdoch: "Before I start, just let me say Malphas, Morbius, an' Ilona're some of the bravest fools I've met. And I wouldn't be standing here without 'em."

This claim is punctuated with an offer of a round of drinks for those present. ((loot and how much this costs would be appreciated to know Mourdos :P))

Murdoch: "Now, I've got an informant that tells me he may be able to find out where other gnoll targets may be, and that's about all I need to know to get things moving. I'm not making any promises, but it's the best lead I've got on gnolls not hiding behind walls right now. I'm lookin' fer trackers, an' anyone as interested as I am in spilling gnoll blood.

This job's a lil' simpler, an' a lil' more secretive. We'll be actin' as escort to my informant, and once that part's done, movin' on to hunting. Targets are likely to be gnolls, goblins, or anything between us and them," Murdoch pauses, his expression grim, "which can be more than a handful, so I'm lookin' mainly for the brave on this mission. That said, I've no use of the reckless. If you're intent on dyin' you can find your own way for that, I won't have you spoilin' my hunt with your death.

We'll be settin' out at first light, and time's of the essence. Pack light, be able to move, we won't be catching anything if you drag your feet. If you've got any qualms with followin' my lead, yer more than welcome to start yer own hunt."

[thisisaspace]

Since he returned from the scouting mission, Malphas has been keeping mostly to himself and spends most of his time staying in his room. When he does come out to restock on necessities, he would also spend lavishly at the Last Stop. When asked about it, he tells the excuse that he's just trying to rest.

Although, he keeps his routine to visit Rufus' grave on a regular basis. On one occasion, he was even seen praying there.

((RP opportunity here))

[Talvara]

Thorik

Thorik has been spending a good number of days hitting the books. ((Will make apropriate rolls when max is back)) it began to nag on him tough... He hadn't heard barina's voice dragging him out of concentration.

The frontier veteran didn't want to admit it, but it had been over a week since she rode off alone, not even her fools luck would hold out that long. Thorik sat back into his chair and looked at the ceiling for a while. it was time to admit it... she wouldn't return. The dwarf considered making a tombstone for her, but now with her sister around that would be inappropriate... she must surely know her sister is no more... right?

anyway... back to the books!

...

... Thorik had a very hard time concentrating, Damnit why did she have to be so stuborn, with the kobold buisness why now, why did she have to die.

She may not have a tombstone, but her husband sure has. perhaps he could relay Thoriks petty frustrations. With a sigh the dwarf lifted himself up from his chair and set off towards the graves.

...

why is it that everytime he set off to the graves he was never there alone... Shouting at a tombstone would have to wait, he walked up besides the visitor and read out the inscription on the Tomestone...

"Rufus Sinistra...hmm" The dwarf paused, "I'm sorry ya had ta find ure friend in a place like this..."


Thorik smiled a somewhat nervous smile at Malphas "ya know... Even with all the death around us, in tha end we dun 'ave much choice besides ta just keep livin." Thorik paused for another moment "Talkin about livin, how'bout tha two o us grab a drink when ure done 'ere"

[thisisaspace]

Malphas was sitting crossed legs, and rather lost in prayer. When Thorik spoke, it startled him a little.

He let the dwarf speak his piece as he stands back up.
"Got one, thanks." Malphas takes out a flask from his pocket and unscrews the top.
"Yeah yeah, I know. I shouldn't live in the past and all that tripe. I'm not even upset that Rufus is dead, not anymore. but coming here just makes me feel calmer, you know? More focused."
He takes a crafty sip from the flask as he looks around him for guards.
"I'm not supposed to drink out here," he said as he wipes his mouth with his sleeve, "Let's go then."

[Another_Poet]

Man, I would so love to RP Barina appearing in some kind of vision to Thorik but I suspect that would break all kinds of rules :P

[Another_Poet]

Ilona

Ilona spends several days secluded with the Annals to learn al she can about the Frontier. One afternoon she finishes her reading and walks into the Last Stop.

She is out of armour, bur wears a regal-looking sky blue cloak wrapped around herself. She stands on a table and makes an announcement.

"I see now why there has been no rescue mounted for my sister. The area in which she disappeared is among the more dangerous that have been reached, near Caitleen's Crossing. I do not impune the honour of any person, neither for their caution thus far nor for turning me down today.

"yet without doubt I must go now and look for my sister while there is still some sliver of hope that she lives. I seek companions with hearts of justice and skill at arms, or magic, or simply experience on the Frontier. Come with me on the morrow and receive forever my esteem and thanks. Moreover, if words are not reward enough, I offer the following conditions!

"One, that I, Anna Ilona Bela, shall fund this expedition and pay for all rations out of my own purse.

"Two, that I will personally remain behind at any battle where we are routed, and hold off the enemy while you effect your escape. You need feel no shame in running if the situation merits; know that I will be your shield at your back.

"Last, that whosoever finds my sister or definitive proof of her demise, will receive as thanks from me my entire share of gold or equipment found on this journey.

"If I could offer more than this, I would surely do so. As it is, please accept these humble assurances as payment for your time and risk. We ride at first light tomorrow."

Sign up today! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7061119&posted=1#post7061119)

[thisisaspace]

"Very nice, 'Anna Ilona Bela'." Malphas giggled, his speech already a little slurry from the rum, "I hope you find her, one way or another. And I hope you come back in one piece too, if only so there's one more pretty face to stay."

[TrenchcoatJesus]

Murdoch

Hearing the call from Ilona he is forced simply to plant his face in his palm. The scenario had some hope to it, but he couldn't shake the overwhelming feeling of some macabre chain of events beginning to repeat itself. Hadn't Barina come out here for some loved one's sake too? There was nothing good about this proposal, and Barina wasn't the only one who had gone missing.

Had it been Barina he'd let it go without much thought, but he'd made that mistake already. When he gets a chance (not in front of the tavern crowd) he'll approach Ilona with the following words of advice:

"Look, I've no doubt yer courageous. You stood toe to toe with that huge cat thing without so much as blinking. Makes me think maybe you had some fate to play out here even if it wasn't for yer sister.

But that kind of area's more than dangerous, it's near suicidal. Barina was a brave lass too, but it wouldn't have taken her this long to find her way back if she were able. I don't wanna call it a lost cause, but how much trouble is confirmin' yer sister's death worth to you? Don't you think there's a better use for yer courage?

I understand if I can't talk ya out of it, but at the least I'd say the expedition's marked for disaster if you bring less than four. For the sake of those that would come with ya, please don't lead them that far out unless you've got that many."

-TcJ

[Talvara]

Thorik

It may seem odd, after all the death Thorik has seen, but the dwarven cleric left behind no will. perhaps it was his refusal to fall, or some sort of Ignorant optimism.

The small gear he brought for the kobolds were left at castle Fyonole. And besides the gear he had on his person there is not much of value to be found in The dwarfs humble room. Not much besides an average sized chest with a decent lock. ((for the fun of it, lets leave the key to be missing for now ;P)) trying to move the chest reveals the sound of coins.

The fund, The kobold treaty, Protecting fools from the Obad Hai tomb, and Barina's secret. all but the secret just became a little more insecure

[thisisaspace]

((this post is entirely for fun. We have no idea what happens after our characters die. Complete Divine seem to have some suggestions, but that's something else. Anyway, below is a conversation me and Poet had after our characters died, taking place in the waiting room of the afterlife. I've taken the liberty of adding descriptions and so forth, liberally.))

Malphas curses frantically as the plant's vine tightens the grip on his neck, he can feel his blood draining away from him.
Oh man, just like that? I'm finished?
Malphas abandons his struggle against the vine, hoping to ease the pain until his last moment.
He thought of his early life as an orphaned street urchin, then the monastery. He thought of his mentor, his career as an assassin for the occult, he thought of Rufus, his only real friend. Though he probably won't be seeing his old friend even in death, knowing where he should end up. He thought of what he did that got him roaming the Frontiers as punishment, and this would be his sentence.
Then he thought on Ilona.
Malphas' eyes suddenly open from his now purple face. He screeches out coarse sounds at his past companions.
"... Kkkght... Use...... FIRE!... Ghyu... UUUargh!"
Great job there, doofus.

Malphas sees nothing but a tranquil white glow all around him. Like someone shined a light in a fog of silk and pearl and milk. He also notice he's not in his armor anymore. He's in some nice comfortable clothes, and Loopy, his stuffed doll he had as a child, except it's more clean. It's... not what he expected.
Malphas is still mostly disoriented from his circumstances. He seems to be on the ground, so he tried to stand up, then he realize he's kind of floating. It's slowly returning to him now.
He starts to see underneath him, it's mostly blurry, and the vision gets closer and further and blurrier and clearer, but he recognize it as his place of death. The battle is still going on, it seems.
If he picked up a holy symbol instead of a blade, maybe he'd be able to tell what is going on, but he's guessing his soul is still being processed, as it were.
As he thoguht random thoughts and drift in and out of near unconsciousness, he suddenly hear a sound. A voice to be exact. He can't tell what the voice said, but he recognized it.
Ilona.
He laments what could have been if he'd taken things more seriously. He's not a bad looking guy, and he gets the occasional attention from members of the opposite sex, but Ilona, she was special. If it wasn't for his secret perhaps he would be more daring, but then again, if it wasn't for his secret he wouldn't have met her.
His secret. He'll finally get to meet his god.
"Here I come, big guy. Take me."
"Who're you talking to?"
Malphas whips his ethereal head up to see who spoke. Not that he can't guess. Ilona is in a dress that looks like the one Malphas' mother wore. He had earned enough favour with a priest back in the monastery to scry about her, only to find that she is dead. The priest was kind enough to magicks up an image of her though. Malphas wondered what does he looked like to Ilona.
"Hi Malphas, where are we? Everything looks so pretty here... weren't we just fighting something though? I can't remember."
"Oh, er, Hi." Malphas adjusts himself so he's facing Ilona properly, "You're dead too."
"Dead? Why would I be dead?" She looks around her curiously, doesn't seem to be aware of what's become of her, "And why are there so many horses and mules here?"
Horses and mules? Just what exactly does this place look like to her?
"Oh, so it's not just your sister you're in full blown denial about."
"Hey, it's not denial! Well... hmmm..." she appraises the ethereal waiting room, "I guess if we ARE dead, then it's not so bad if SHE's dead. This place is alright."
Broads *sigh*, but she is pretty. Alright Malphas, it's now or never.
"Listen here, for all we know, we could be going to different planes, and Plane Shift are just so expensive... So..." Say it, just out with it.
"Wanna do it while we still can?" Damn it! Stop thinking with your ****!
"What?" she blushes as red as her dress,"Oh... yeah... haha. Well, I guess I won't be getting a marriage contract anytime soon. I don't know though, won't it hurt?"
Jackpot, she's a virgin, too?
Malphas puts on a sly grin.
"Well, there's only one way..."
No, she's not just some random skank. Come on.
"No, sorry, this is wrong, I gotta do it right this time. I have to come clean."
"What?"
"You know the Nerull cult? Yeah..." It's for the best. "At any moment now, I'll meet my god."
"Wow, that is hot..."
"Right, I completely under-... Wha?"
"Are you saying this won't be your first try at necrophilia?" Ilona winks at Malphas.
Malphas chuckles at the quip.
"You know how bad a corpse smell? Imagine what it's like inside the thing. No, I never quite got into all that." Malphas is reminded of the group of... hobbyists he encountered in the graveyard crypt back in the monastery.
"Well actually, disturbing the dead is kinda frow-..."
"Shhhh..." Ilona moved closer and placed a finger on Malphas' lips.
"If they try to turn me away from Heaven I'm going to say you forced me..." Ilona giggled with delight as she unbuttons Malphas' shirt.

[TrenchcoatJesus]

Murdoch

Four days after leaving on his 'secret mission' with Thorik, Ilona and Malphas, Murdoch is seen returning late at night to Fort Tulder, looking as though he has traveled the day before and then some. He is leading Ilona's horse, Paprika, which has two human bodies across it, along with his packmule which appears to hold a dwarf's body in addition to a large haul of other stuff. Thorik's horse and Malphas's horse are nowhere to be seen.

His first stop is the local church, where he brings word of the fate of his fallen comrades. Word spreads quickly that Thorik has died, and the following day a large gathering is held to honor the dwarf's funeral.

Once the funerals are concluded, Murdoch spends most of the day in his room, but at night he visits the tavern, drowning his sorrows in alcohol and regaling those present with the last story of Thorik's bravery - namely, how the dwarf wrestled a 5000 lb. bear and lived. He attempts to pass on the dwarf's legacy with the local folk, hoping the moniker of "Thorik the Bear" will do the dwarf some justice in his afterlife.

Murdoch seems more like a shadow of his former self, a somewhat sad sight in the 6'3" tall, 220 lb man. Indeed, few were not shaken at the news of Thorik's death and Murdoch himself seems at a complete loss. After dealing with the burdens of his mule and Paprika, he comissions for his buckler to be fur lined and engraved with the symbol of Moradin (specifically, the likeness of Thorik's stone holy symbol which Murdoch now has). Following this work, he sells Thorik's +1 warhammer in order to enchant the buckler. (850 gp for +1 with 15% discount, and 40 xp) The dwarf had been his shield quite literally in the goblin-infested farmstead, and in many other respects throughout their short time together. Without a will, Murdoch only hopes Thorik would approve of this material legacy of the dwarf.

In addition to this, he also buys a mithral chain shirt, and requests for as much of the bearhide that remains to be used to make fur-lined gloves and boots (1/2 a normal bearskin rug is used as material basically, so as much as can be made. For the buckler a single strip along the outside edge would be sufficient) for himself. Although the man is quite a sight, he appears the sort that has seen some measure of glory and all at once passed his prime -- his only recent impressive feat is the amount of alcohol he can take before passing out.

No more calls are made by the large man for adventure in the tavern, and something of a dull surrender settles in where once there had been defiance against the unforgiving frontier.

-TcJ

[Ryerbiar]

Kaist

A young man entered Last Stop to Nowhere, looking a bit out of place compared to the rest of the patrons. Skin far too fair to have ever spent any significant time in the sun, fine clothing dirtied and tattered from travel, and the overall appearance of someone who was born into "Good Blood". The only thing that betrayed this appearance was the weapons and armor he carried on him...a bit of a mocking look for someone who seemed like he should be dining on roast pork in some fancy hall.

The young man's name was Kaist. He sighed and stroked the hair on his chin, muttering at just an audio able level, "Damn guards..." A few moments before, he had gotten into a confrontation with one of the guards at the gate about the guard's mannerisms, it soon escalated into insults and nearly gotten him thrown out. Regrettably, he had to back down and walk away. With only home to go to and a weeks worth of travel to get here, he couldn't turn back now.

Sitting down at the nearest place he could find, Kaist once again uttered a complaint, "This is a wretched place..." he said as he looked around, slowly realizing that this wasn't going too be as glorious as he once thought. While Kaist didn't like it, he knew he didn't have a choice. You would think though the empire would spend a bit more money on tiding this place up, right? Make this place a bit more livable?

Though he was new to adventure, he wasn't completely clueless. The young runaway noble looked around the room, looking for people he could tell had more experience on the frontier then he did. He had no Illusions of Grandeur; Kaist knew very well that the best way to survive will be to learn from the success (and mistakes) of others.

[Kat-The-Clouded]

Maeve stepped into the scene, she looked young and warn from travel. Her feet planted in a small patch of grass next to one of the flowing rivers that passes through Fort Tulder. Worn brown and blue cloth wraps around her hands and feet the rest of her body dressed in bushed leather armor. She carries no backpack on her back, only a few hatchets holstered at her side next to a water skin tucked into her side belt - plus a small pouch and a small lantern hang from the other side of her belt. In one hand she hefts up an extremely heavy cross bow set over her shoulder, its arms folded to the wooden frame to provide easier carrying of the object. The girl looked not much older then twenty her hair was mangled from months on the road, She began sewing beads into a few of the strands that hung now off her back and over her shoulder; the rest was put up. She had traveled far to reach this grim port of would be riches mixed with prevalent and common death. She stood out before the gates for quiet some time wondering if she was making the right decision, but knowing that if she didn't succeed now her parents fate would be sewn and they would become nothing more then beggars. She tightened her grip on the crossbow that lay idle over her shoulder, as if calling strength from the piece of wood and metal, and continues forward.

she had no trouble getting past the guards at the front gate, she offered them her common sweet smile and they let her through. Her tired and worn legs moved to the inn/tavern that was situated here, it seemed the most active of areas and a good place to try and begin her new career. At first she was a bit apprehensive about the whole thing, so many people in one room made her ill, she slid to an empty table quiet and timid like before she pulled the crossbow from her shoulder and dropped it on the table. The bows arms suddenly unfolded the string taught and loaded as it launches a preloaded bolt across the room. The thing skims a support beam taking chunks of wood with it and then stabs into a wall not far from a few of the taverns patrons. a cringed and feared look of shock and dismay laid across the girls face as the room fell quiet. She looked to her left and right and brought up a timid hand as if to wave to them all. "sorry" she softly whispered then the legs that supported her table came undone from the sudden burden of her 'cross' and collapsed making a loud noise and bang as it came crashing down ~ first impressions, oi

[Ryerbiar]

(For the record, I am not a womanizer nor a pervert...well...maybe a pervert. But I mean no offense in what I write...this is just my character being him.)

Kaist

"GOOD GODS!" Kaist nearly fell out of the chair as the bolt whistled by his ear, hitting the wall further behind him. While some might say that he was over exaggerating – that the bolt was almost arms length away from him, he had a good excuse for his surprise. Kaist was distracted by booty; not booty as in gold, but the booty of another kind. Kaist had been secretly watching Maeve...well... parts of Maeve, since she had walked into the tavern. This proved a significant distraction; so significant, that he was completely caught surprised by the bolt that fired in his direction.

Kaist was on the edge of his chair, learning away from where the bolt had passed him, his heart nearly jumped out of his chest. His breaths were deep for a moment, but soon relaxed as he regained his composer. He wasn't sure if he should consider himself luck that it missed, or unlucky that it flew in his direction. Focusing again on Maeve, he watched in surprise as the table fell off it's legs and hit the floor, kicking up dust.

Now, this young woman wasn't exactly what he was looking for. He was hoping for an experienced frontiers man too ask questions, but now his priorities changed. Approaching Maeve with a smile (a bit shaky for being startled) Kaist spoke as calmly as possible, "Mind if I sit with you at your..." he looked down at the table, his smile growing a bit larger, "...table?"

[Kat-The-Clouded]

Maeve was usually good at picking up minor details, her fear and anxiety over whelmed her in the crowded tavern and luckily for kaist, she didn't notice him diligently staring at her ass. After the accident she became quite alert as everyone from the tavern had shut up and was now looking over at her in complete silence. All the eyes starring down on her, it made her skin crawl, she didn't know what to do and was becoming frantic - luckily Kaist broke the silence and with that the entire crowd continued on with what they were doing.

Kaist

"Mind if I sit with you at your..." he looked down at the table, his smile growing a bit larger, "...table?"

She returned to him a nervous smile and was a bit hesitant to speak - she seemed like the overly quiet type never liking to make to much of a scene. She pointed to a table more towards the back, picking up the heavy cross bow that looked like it could have weighed twenty pounds slung it up over her shoulder and carefully walked over the debris to an available table in the back.

Once the two were settled she heard some whispers from around the crowd, people most likely talking of her recent misfortune. She slumped down extremely embarrassed about the whole thing. A meaty waitress finds her way around the tables, a few mugs of beer balanced on the tray she carried up over her head. "Don't worry about it 'hun' - the reason no one sits there because that tables always been a bit screwy - plus it makes it easy to spot the green horns, you weren't the first." She gave Maeve a reassuring smile before she looked to the two of em. "You two want anything?" Maeve gave a grin of thanks but still did not speak, she nodded at the idea of beer and slid over a few copper pieces.

[Ryerbiar]

She returned to him a nervous smile and was a bit hesitant to speak - she seemed like the overly quiet type never liking to make to much of a scene. She pointed to a table more towards the back, picking up the heavy cross bow that looked like it could have weighed twenty pounds slung it up over her shoulder and carefully walked over the debris to an available table in the back.


Kaist smiled as he followed the young woman towards the back of the tavern. He liked the shy ones, they always had an alluring quality too them. That coupled with how cute it was to see her flustered, it was a win-win situation. Kaist paid no mind too the chatters and whispers of the patrons, there was only one person in this Gods forsaken place he was concerned with. He slipped a few of his own copper pieces with Maeve's coins, "A cup of your strongest for me please."

The young noble looked over towards Maeve, ready for the sweet talking, "Don't be embarrassed. Pay no mind too the chatter of drinkers," he said, speaking in the kindest of voices too Maeve, "Forgive me for not introducing myself earlier, the bolt must have stuck my manners. My name is Kaist Furillious, and to who do I owe the pleasures of talking to a young woman so fair?"

[Talvara]

Isabel

A little later than the other new arrivals came a regular cart. you know the ones that bring supplies every now and then. On the back of this cart a small figure wraped in a blue cloak was sitting, silently grumbling to itsself.

as the cart emerged from the morningmist and aproached the castle The small figure jumped off the cart and mumbled to itsself "its best to not have to explain my little free ride hehe." the figure then waited till the cart was checked and aproached the guards at the entrence.

As it came closer it lowered its hood. revealing a rather young halfling girl with just a little tomuch eye shadow, blue eyes and black smooth hair. She smiled a cute and naive smile at the duo of guards as she asked: "So... I heard you gentlemen offer free lodging to 'adventurers'" She did a quick spin around showing herself from every angle. "Well... Here I am! Isabel 'Sparkle' at your service!".

The halfling lady then smiled (witch clenched teeth) as the guards spoke condecendingly about... A) height, B) Age, C) Profession, D) Gender, E) all of the above...
...Yeah it was (E), Regardless after having their laughs they didn't have any need to halt the young halfling and thus let her through.

She left with a smile and a few meters away silently said to herself "What a bunch of idiots!", Isabel spent the rest of the morning settling into small 2nd story room that overlooked several merchants, The place was filled with dust and cobwebs... and perhaps even some spiders who'se size would have easily made them a cr 1/2 encounter. but it would have to do. The rest of the afternoon was then used to buy a chainshirt and shortsword, afterall... she had to leave in quite a hurry. only taking what she was wearing. If it wasn't for that large human purse her halfling fingers managed to snatch she might even had to beg(!) for food on her trip here.

Iselle, The blacksmith of the blackhammer forge received a different smile than the guards, this one was genuine. As Isabel tried on the chainshirt and brandished the shortsword briefly... "yes... Yes! these are great. Thank you somuch miss!"

Isabel now found herself wandering the streets alone with her toughts... 'okay... so Im here now, The trip went well enough... now all I have to do is keep a low profile and those testosterone for brain clowns will never find me! ha! bunch of idiots' The halfling girl inched forward and almost as a reflex headed to the Last stop. 'now Isabel, just keep a low profile okay?'... she clenched her teeth as she found her hands on the door to the inn 'laylow... okay?'...

Isabel threw open the door with asmuch force as she could muster and with a large smile announced "Ladies and Gentlemen! From the south has come for you!" while she was speaking she began to write her name in the air with a mix of parlour tricks and dancing lights. "Isabel! the Sparkle!" as the words: Isabel, Sparkle began to vanish from the air the halfling lady was left standing there with a powerfull pose and a somewhat nervous smile.. 'okay... so we're not keeping a low profile... better make some powerfull friends just in case'

And so the fort was now one adventerous sole richer.

(ooc. forgive my spelling, my spellchecker seems to not be working on my new laptop yet)

[TrenchcoatJesus]

Murdoch

It was a slow morning. Normally he'd have been working in his room but today he just didn't have it in him. At least, it had been a slow morning until a bolt loosed itself through the Last Stop. Although it hadn't come particularly close to the man, Murdoch couldn't help but be annoyed at the dull thud which rang in his ears well after the bolt had stopped its course. Looking to the source of the commotion, he saw a girl barely old enough to leave home. In fact, he questioned that, being where he was chances are she simply ran away.

She wasn't the only one either, there had been the recent arrival of a young man about the same age. Seems like he wasn't wasting any time either, Murdoch noted, as the two found another table nearer the back. Sighing to himself he wondered just how long they'd live. Maybe they'd be lucky, maybe two weeks. Maybe they'd even be smart enough to retire early. Maybe Moradin himself would appear in the tavern and decide to give Thorik another chance at life. As Murdoch took another swig of his ale, he decided the third was probably the most likely.

This would have been the point at which Murdoch spoke up and did something. Something like saying "No you crazy b**** we're going home" if it were Barina, or "Sorry but we're not looking for your crazy b**** sister" if it were Ilona. In this case, "I need the help of young, brave adventurers to undertake a quest! Get the f*** out of Fort Tulder and live your lives longer than a month" would seem appropriate. Still though, even Murdoch did not usually swear that much and he decided it'd be better not to let the ale talk.

In fact, a lot of his intentions seem to have been slipping this way lately. Staying put in his head, including the thought of further progress of his bowcrafting today. Or finalizing that copy of his charts so far. Just about the only thing he'd "accomplished" lately had been spending money. Still, at least he had money to spend, and life to spend it with. That was enough for now. Heck, that'd been his way of life prior to even coming here to begin with. He could probably retire here and see about working under Yselle more permanently as a bowyer. Probably a comfy living with the amount of business he'd get.

These thoughts were mixing with another round of ale when a young halfling entered the tavern, a magic user and quite apparently not afraid to show it. Three young runaways by his estimation, meeting up in the Last Stop on the same day. Oh, this was f***ing fantastic.

The large man dragged himself to his feet.
Murdoch is a large man, imposing even, at over six feet tall with a well built frame to match. He keeps medium length brown hair tucked under a black leather wide-brimmed hat. What looks like mithral chain is buried beneath a leather overcoat, obviously of superior make and quality. In fact, the armor looks better maintained than the man, who is unshaven and most likely unbathed for some indeterminate amount of time prior.

He wears gloves and boots that appear to be fur-lined, and a belt that supports a warhammer hanging from a loop on his right side and a battleaxe on his left. Neither look as though they are of particular quality, though both look to be maintained fairly well and in good working order. A dagger is also sheathed on his left hip. Of the various aromas the man sports, the hint of alcohol is only slightly the most prevalent.

He pointed at the two youths at the back table, "You, you, and" he said with a slight smirk as he pointed at the halfling, "Miss Sparkle, outside." His expression immediately resumes a frown, the most common of his expressions of late, as he strides out of the tavern with a slow and deliberate gait.

-TcJ

[Kat-The-Clouded]

Maeve had to finish down half her ale before she began speaking. She wasn't always shy but around new people she found it difficult to 'open up' even briefly giving her name seemed like a challenge. So when Kaist inquired she wasn't to sure what to do. She most likely wasn't the brand of girl that he was used to. Sloppy gulping at the brew she plopped the mug down before running a sleeve across her mouth to wipe off the excess. She then put out the same hand with a bit of hesitation - not because of her recently foul action because she was worried of the mans intentions. He asked for her name and minutes had passed before she finally drank her beer, put out a hand and then with a soft whisper almost like a mouse she spoke -" 'Maeve." She never claimed to be a linguist or a woman of many words...or any for that matter. She then proceeded to try and think of something to say but continued to fail leaving her mind blank in such an awkward situation. luckily she was saved!! Another man, one who looked like he had more experience in the deadly north, pointed them out. She gulped - i looks like she was just saved from one minor awkward conversation to be thrown into well another. She shot her eyes from Murdoc back to Kaist. "was he speaking to us?" - again in a soft whispered town before she looked back watching Murdoc head outside. With out waiting for Kaist's answer she grabbed her crossbow and moved to the door to meet up with the others outside.

[Ryerbiar]

Kaist

Well...she was...rough around the edges. Suddenly, a realization sparked in his head. Prim and proper girls were gonna be few and far between around here. This wasn't exactly a place where the usual women would come. How many woman normally walk around with a giant crossbow, anyway? Well, while he might be picky, but... Kaist slowly reached out his hand, ready too say something. But he never even got too touch her hand before a rough, dirty but well equipped patron called him, as well as the two new girls, out.

Now, when Kaist was called out in a bar, normally it was for two reasons. He ether
A) Deeply offended him
or
B) Bedded (or at least tried too) with the man's sister, wife, or daughter

Now, he had not been here long enough too do ether of these things, so this was a bit confusing too him. His had brushed against the handle of his spiked chain, which was coiled up and hanging from his belt. Sure that he was ready, he sat up and followed Maeve, who had already started for the door.

(Check the OCC, TCJ posted a session for the 4 of us)

[Talvara]

Isabel

'oh dear... who did you piss off already now' Isabel tought as she was pointed out by the large man. The smell of liqour as the man passed her to lead outside was almost overwhelming and more than enough to turn Isabels nervous smile into a loathfull frown...

As Murdoch took large but slow paces towards the exit she ponders... and silently mutters to herself "atleast this one doesnt try to hide it".

She then throws her hands up in the air and says towards the undoubtedly uninterested patrons "Don't worry kind and good folk For 'the Sparkle' will be back!" She takes a small bow and reluctantly follows the large man out.

Once outside she leans to the wall, crosses her arms and puts up a fowl look. "So what is it?" she says in a hostile tone.

It wont be untill the Human girl Meave walks out that her fowl look relaxes into a more neutral one. (only to briefly scowl again as the male closely following her 'tail' apears)

[TrenchcoatJesus]

Murdoch credit: TcJ
Kaist Furillious credit: Ryerbiar
Isabel 'The Sparkle' credit: Talvara
Maeve credit: Kat

Isabel keeps her arms crossed and leans against the tavern wall "So... what is it?!"

Kaist eyes the large man, a bit wary of him.

Murdoch exclaims "Welcome to the Frontier" as he sweeps into a short, mock bow. "I suppose you're either here for the glory, fame, or someplace to hide"

Isabel frowns with suspicion.

Maeve cautiously steps out of the tavern. Her cross bow folded in on itself in an unprepared mode and as well strapped to her back.

Murdoch: "Well, there's the money too. So what'll it be? Money or Fame?"

Kaist doesn't look too happy by his sarcasm.

Maeve didn't answer as she looked to the others for their responses. It was obvious she wasn't one that was particulary fond of speaking.

Kaist: "Does it even matter too you? I got my reasons for being here."

"I dont share my motivations with drunks," Isabel responds to the large man.

Murdoch rubs his chin and nods, "Very well. Plenty of folks come out here for plenty of reasons, most of them end up in the cemetary. Well, those that are lucky enough to be brough back."

Kaist blinks a little bit, before asking "Trying to scare us into leaving?"

Isabel looks unphased.

Murdoch: "In a word, yes. If it were you and a soldier 'round here, I'd put my money on the soldier. That said, even the soldiers don't go far into the Frontier. What does that tell you?"

Maeve seems very phased as she gives an audible gulp. But seeing the others seem less hindered she quickly straightens up and does her best to wash the frightful look from her face.

Isabel silently mutters to herself "uses the word us rather liberally doesn't he..."

Kaist: "Well, call me overconfident...but I think I'll do just fine here...as long as the do something about the smell of this place first."

Isabel: "It's a dangerous place if I have to believe the stories sure, but truth be told. right now that suits me just fine"

Maeve: "Well....I for one am not looking to prove my self to any one...but i could use a job that could bring me some coin to my pocket." her voice was quiet and barley able to be heard.

Murdoch: "I am calling you overconfident. That's not much of a problem for me, but don't expect much beyond an early grave. There was a dwarf I travelled a bit with, he was an adventurer. The sort I'm sure you're here to become. We came across a bear once, twice the size of a normal one, we're talking 5000 lbs. of mean. Would you like to know what happened to him?"

Kaist blinks in surpise at the idea of a double sized bear, he looks too his fellow new adventures for a response.

Isabel: "UGH, If you want to share your horror stories then get to the point already," she gives out a brief sigh "men..."

Murdoch chuckles, "Very well then, the crazy dwarf lived. He wrestled with a 5000 lb. bear and lived. We killed it, ate bear steak that day. The next? He and the other two with me all died to plantlife."
Murdoch: "This isn't the sort of place heroes are made, it's the sort of place where heroes meet quick and unexpected ends."

Kaist: "That's a good lesson there my friend. But you know, if I really wanted a lecture I would have written a letter to my mother."

Maeve decides not to be rude like the others to a man who could very well offer her good support later on.

Isabel puts her hands on her hips, and looks thoughtful.

Murdoch sighs, "Suit yerself. Just make yourself a will before you head out." to Maeve "You said you were looking for a job? What can you do?"

Isabel steps forward "wait a moment here."

Kaist crosses his arms, looking a little peaved.

Isabel: "you already know my name, but never cared to give me yours"
Isabel: "then again... you dont look like a man who relies on his good manners..."

Maeve was about to speak but was cut off by Isabel she slunked back letting her finish.

Murdoch smirks with a nod, "Pardon me, you can call me Murdoch. Bowyer and guide"

Isabel points to the female human, and then the male human. "and you, and you?"

Kaist: "My name? Kaist Nemis Furillious."
Kaist bows towards the two ladies.

Maeve once again began to speak this time she would hopefully be successful. "I am certainly not the best fighter but I am generally good at spotting danger before it spots me or my allies...and my general tactic is to take em out before they know im there."
Maeve: "I am....Maeve."

Isabel: "Well, As im sure you couldnt miss it, but just to make sure My name is Isabel"

Murdoch: To Maeve "So a scout of sorts.. are you any good at skinning, crafting, hunting wild game?"

Maeve: "i'm good at hunting and skinning and hunting.."

Murdoch: "Have you ever dealt with Gnolls before?"

Kaist is a little jealous that Murdoch got Maeve too talk so easly.

Maeve simply shakes her head unaware of what the creature even was.

Isable steals a peak at kaist when hes not looking.

Kaist is completely unaware of Isabel examining him as he looks lost in his thoughts.

Isabel: "pfff... men" she mumbles to herself, imagining whats going on in his brain right now.

Murdoch: "If you'd like to work for me I'll give you 25 gold a month. First one's upfront since you look like you need it. If you prove you're worth more you'll see it."

Isabel shudders.

Kaist is at first not paying attention, but as the words finally hit is ears.

Maeve would need more then a simple 25g a month, but it was something that seemed solid and she had to start some where. With his help she would be able to get to know the fort along with its horribly dangerous surroundings. She gives a small nod. "I'll do it."

Kaist: "Hold on, weren't you just trying too convice us too leave a moment ago?"

Murdoch: "I still am. If you want fame you can take a walk through our hall of fame which doubles as our cemetary. If you're looking for money and have a level head on your shoulders I'm more able to help."

Kaist thinks for a moment.

Murdoch unhooks a small pouch from his belt and sorts through it, putting 2 platinum and 5 gold pieces in another and tossing it towards Maeve.

Maeve quickly snatches the coins from the air and they dissapear in her pouch.

Kaist looks conflicted on whether he should take employment under this man or go it alone.

"Just what does this... 'job' you're offering to her entail" Isabel says in a somewhat distrustfull tone

Maeve being a very trusting person didn't really think about that. Judging from his earlier questions she would assume hunting and skinning.

Murdoch arches a brow, "Well I thought that was pretty obvious. There are animals out here that can be worth a sizable sum to the right buyer. That and she's interested in seeing the next month."

Maeve smiles, liking the sound of living for over a month...

Murdoch: To Maeve, "Only rule fer now's don't get yourself killed. I'd suggest not leaving the fort without me, but I won't hold you to it."

Maeve nods to the remark and looks down at her pigeoned toes then back up. "When will we be heading out? I would like to get started right away."

Isabel briefly feels the weight of her own money pouch and gulps... "well... I'm comming too! I dont care if you pay me or not"

Kaist decides to follow his smaller head then his larger one. "I'm intrested in this employment you're offering."

Murdoch rubs his chin with a grin, "Where'd all that mistrust go Miss Sparkle? Very well, if the lot of you can follow my lead I'll be planning something for later this week. If you survive the month we'll talk about pay."

Kaist speaks to Murdoch in the rough language of Gnoll: "I'll outlast you old man."

Isabel shrugs, "I'm not that desperate that I need money from the likes of you. But I don't intend to die out there by running off alone"

Maeve became startled by Kaist's sudden change in tone and verbs and she shifts away from him and the scary language coming out of his mouth.

Murdoch: To Isabel "Suit yerself" To the rest, "Looks like business is done here, I'm headed back to my room."

Kaist looks over too Maeve, smiling at her warmly. "Didn't meant too startle you, that was Gnoll if you didn't know."

"Dont drink yourself to death now" Isabel smiles at Murdoch.

Murdoch dismisses the notion with a wave of his hand as he walks away.

Maeve frowns wishing the man would have grabbed a drink with her but she couldn't change that now, she turns noticing Kaist looking at her with a strange look of sorts and quickly turns her head as if to catch him checking her out.

Isabel wanders over to Maeve.

"Oh...well I guess i know something about them now." Maeve answers Kaist's comment before she turns to the approaching Isabel.

Isabel: "Hey... You watch yourself around that guy okay?.. I'll watch your back, We girls gotta watch each other's backs okay?" The tone of her voice is very different than it was when she was addressing Murdoch, it's not hostile at all. Isabel ignores the fact that the other male is still standing around and speaks normally.

Kaist: "Hey, I resent that..."

Maeve simply gives a small wave as if dismissing Isabel's words. "He didn't seem that bad, just a little gruff around the edges."

Isabel frowns a little... "just be carefull okay?"
Isabel looks at kaist... "I resent a lot of things..." she says with a smile.

Maeve gives Isabel a friendly smile and nods. "Thanks, I think you are right about one thing. It might be wise for us to stick together up here, I am sure there are a lot of 'friendly' males." She speaks of friendly of course as not a good thing.

Kaist knew that there was a rather friendly one around them right now. "Well ladies, that was a rather intresting talk. Now, me and Maeve have drinks wanting for us back inside, would you like too join us Ms. Sparkle?" Kaist threw her a small smile.

Isabel looks at Kaist again... and raises an eyebrow. "sounds good to me" and ends with a smile "Setting up my show can wait"

Maeve: "Show? what show is this that you speak of?"

"A magic show" Isabel Grins.

Maeve: "magic...isn't that dangerous?"

"haha...ha..." Isabel laughs nervously. "not at... all?"

Kaist's eye brows rise in curiosity.

Maeve didn't really believe her a hundred percent. "alright, ,if you say so." the three of them head back into the tavern.

Isabel: "They say powerfull magic is unstable these days, But... I'm not really at that level yet, so everything should be fine"

Maeve: "well....what happens when you do infact reach that level?"

Isabel smiles "I don't know haha!"

Kaist: "I heard something about magic doing crazy things once it reaches a certain point...but I don't know what 'crazy things that is. Some wizard ranting about 'magic stability' or want not told me, didn't understand much of it."

Maeve: "I guess if we stick around Isabel long enough we will find out." The timid girl seemed to have made an attempt at a joke.

Kaist smiled at Maeve.

Kaist: "Just as long as I'm a 100 yards away, cast all the powerful magic you want."

Isabel: "now that is very brave of you"

Kaist smiles a bit more towards Isabel.

Maeve slams the last of her ale that was waiting for her back at their table.

Isabel looks at Kaist... and in a different more awkward tone she says "hey... You be carefull too okay?.. oh... and behave!" she ends with a stern look. she then picks herself up and gets ready to leave

Kaist's cheeks flushed slightly, like a child caught red handed lying.

Maeve is a bit confused, she sometimes was a bit aloof to the whole situation and simply orders another ale.

-TcJ

[Ryerbiar]

(not sure if I should start a new day or continue on where me and Kat last left off >.<; Seem weird too just end it at that)

Kaist
After Isabel had left, Kaist pondered what had just happened. He didn't like Murdoch, something about the man rubbed him off the wrong way. In hindsight, he realized he might not be happy with the decision he just made. But Kaist had his eye on the prize, and would jump into a lion's den for it. Kaist reached for the ale he had ordered, quickly downing the heavy drink. His face scrunched in displeasure, it was decently not the spice wines he was use too drinking. "Gods, that's bitter..." he muttered too himself, before focusing back on too Maeve, "If you don't mind me asking...you came all the way north for a job?" he asked, his eye brow raised slightly. Seems strange that someone would choose this kind of life too make money. Sure there were untold riches, but it was dangerous as well. Not the kind of life if you were hoping too just make a living. There had too be something else, "Might I ask why?"

[Talvara]

Isabel

after drinking a little with the other two youths Isabel head 'home'... the place was still pretty untidy and the last of the spiders were surely not slain. she at herself in the window place and watched down upon the streets below. The halfling girl quickly sank into toughts... 'what have you gotten yourself into now...' was one of the first, followed by 'I never intended to actually go out there! idiot, idiot, idiot!'

she sat there in the window for a while hugging one of her legs, till she finaly came at peace with herself, Isabel gave a short sigh and looked around the room. a spider just crawled out from under the bed and was making its way to a small hole in the wall... "Now how did this go..?" Isabel muttered to herself. She muttered some arcane words and used a single finger to draw a mark in the air. finaly she pointed at the running spider and a blueish ray shot out of her extended finger, only barely missing the spider and leaving some frostmarks on the floor. The young halfling smirked and decided to try and get some sleep, the next day would be a long one.

Isabel didn't sleep much. The dark unfamiliar room, and the smell of strong liqour still filled her mind...

.........

Isabel got up early the next day, Shot another ray of frost at a spider, (this time hitting the damned thing), eating some breakfast and putting on her new chainmail and holstering her shortsword onto her thigh.

The morning fog was still vaguely present as the young girl walked into the graveyard. The sight was nothing short of spooky but still... the graveyard was the best place she could imagine to be left alone for a while. she somewhat underestimated the weight of the chainmail and found that it obscured her movement somewhat... Yhe halfling then brandished her sword and held it firm in her hands, "I'ts been a while..." she said to herself in a nostalgic tone. She swung the sword at an imaginary attacker! and was dragged behind the weight of the swing... she almost landed face first in a fresh grave!

Isabel regained her stance and let out a sigh... "oh dear..."

She then spend the rest of the morning and a fair bit of the afternoon practicing her swings and blocks on imaginary enemies, the form of Murdoch also showed up a few times among her imaginary attackers... [instert Montage] by the end of the afternoon she was swinging her sword around with grace, and if anyone would be peeking at the halfling lass they would undoubtedly think that she was dancing around the graves.

"looks like I still got it, Thank you Miranda..."

[Kat-The-Clouded]

"If you don't mind me asking...you came all the way north for a job?" he asked, his eye brow raised slightly. "Might I ask why?"

She decided to take it easy on her second ale, or was it her third? She couldn't remember - one could only assume this was one of the reasons she decided to slow down. She didn't want to lose her self but the drinks did help her gain a bit of the confidence around others she normally wouldn't have. "Well, I have quiet a few reasons." Some annoyance seemed to show through her tone - his question seemed to place her as the foolish girl who ran off to the most dangerous place in the world with out thinking about it. "My family needs money...I am the only child and my father has grown sick, not to mention that our life long servitude as farm hands has simply put us more into debt, and if you haven't noticed high paying jobs of any sort are a rarity for me and my kind." Of course she was speaking of the female gender, patrols, guards and military service for any woman was certainly difficult if they didn't have any pull in the community already - that is except up here were they don't give a rats ass - simply put. "I came here to pull my family out of debt and maybe give them some hope of living out there elder years comfortably." She decided to ignore her early attempts to 'slow down' and took another big gulp before slamming the mug back down. Her expression seemed to have changed from that soft shy one from before. Her eyes narrowed as if resenting the man suddenly. "I am not going to rush in and get my self killed!" She simply assumed that was his plan, seeing as he mocked her for accepting cohort position of a man who has survived out here a lot longer then either of them.

She then slid off her chair pulling the heavy cross bow from its position on the table - everyone in the room seemed to tense as she did so, worried of another accident. She pushed her way through the crowd and to go and find her living quarters.

[Ryerbiar]

Kaist drank alone this time, reflecting on the events that had transpired. Maeve's outburst, the hunt, Isabel getting poisoned, all were being sorted in his mind. Kaist wasn't sure what exactly had made Maeve so mad, and he hadn't gotten the chance to ask. But he will, even if he was a little turned off by it, wasn't like he wasn't interested. As for Isabel, when she wasn't able too threaten him as much (such as being the subject of a certain spiny lizard's poison) she was rather cute. Now, he had never had a halfing woman, normally having taller women to run after, but she was still fun to tease. As for Murdoch, after their little field trip into the wild, he had a (tiny) bit more respect for the man. Sure he was sarcastic, dirty and rough, but the man knew he what he was doing, and that was the only thing he could respect. Though for the life of him, he couldn't remember how he ended up in the man's tent. As for the hunt it's self, he wished he had seen more action. He couldn't say he even had much impact in slaying the two beast, only able too get a single hit with an arrow. Next time, he told himself, the fight he wanted will be his. The only thing he liked about it was the profit he reaped, which he planned on the uses he would find for his new found wealth.

[TrenchcoatJesus]

Sporting a rather large catch suspended in two nets between a packmule and light warhorse, Murdoch, Morbius, Maeve, Isabel and Kaist all returned to Fort Tulder. Perhaps not the most amazing feat of heroics, but still notable in Murdoch's mind at least. Another successful mission, it was a good feeling after the last disaster he had undertaken. Once Vilize was happy (perhaps too happy) with his new rather large poison-breathing lizard and various parts thereof, Murdoch divided the gold amongst Morbius and his 'recruits.' He had much to plan for, and more charts to go over after their last outing.

As he gave Maeve her share, he said, "I'd like to have some words with you, sometime before sundown. You ken find me at Yselle's workshop."

***

Well, she was here. She wasn't too sure what to expect, but she wore her best dress regardless. It wasn't much of anything but common blue cloth that gave just above her ankles, with large straps hung over her shoulders which held the dress up. The sleeves hung by a thread, leaving the shoulders cut out and visible but kept her arms' length warm and unseen. Admittedly she did feel a little bit self-conscious but it'd be too late to change now. Yes, she steeled herself, best not to keep him waiting. She pulled the door to Yselle's workshop open and slipped inside.

Murdoch had apparently adapted several workbenches for his own use, which were surrounded by piles of lumber of every shape, size, material and quality. One bench had a mass of charts and maps piled in a corner, and the one he worked at presently had an array of arrow shafts and presumably fittings for them. Curiosity had gotten the better of her, and she spent a long moment scanning the large workshop, noting its many racks, tools, benches, weaponry and armor in various states of completion or repair. Murdoch didn't appear to have noticed her, though. Summoning her voice with a small cough Maeve started, "I'm here, sir, you said you wanted to see me?"

Looking up from his work briefly, Murdoch notes her with a nod. He appears slightly disappointed at her dress but shakes his head as if dismissing the notion as quickly as it had formed, "Indeed I did, supposin' I shoulda been more clear. Ah well, shall we get right down to it then?"

Maeve wasn't too sure why he looked disappointed -- she hadn't been late, she was sure. Was it the dress? Did it not suit her? She didn't really know how to deal with his first reaction and her throat dried up. All she could do was freeze and nod in reply.

Murdoch resumed his work as he spoke, which seemed unusual but not unwelcome to Maeve. He had always been very straight-forward, confrontational even, in his speech, but now he had broken eye contact. Even so, the man was nothing if not direct. "Now, I'm a simple man and I'd like to put a simple question to you. You don't seem to want 'riskin' yer neck' as your sole livelihood, so let me ask you: What do you want out of your life? You probably could've made a meek and mild housewife but you seem a little past that now. You've got a purpose, but what's yer plan?"

Maeve faltered, she was a little unsure how to take his question. If it weren't for the current setting, it nearly sounded like a bad warm up to a proposal. She cleared her mind of such naive thoughts, and cleared her throat before she spoke once more, "I don't follow..."

Murdoch chuckled faintly, glancing up now and then between breaks of his work, "Yer plan lass, yer plan. You've gotten this far an' yer willin' to fight fer yer supper, but what happens next? Or yer happy just makin' due?"

"Well, I've been playing it by ear mostly," she says, her face turning a light pink. He made her feel childish all of the sudden, but rather than burst out as she had with Kaist she just accepted the feeling. Casting her eyes downward she continued, "You see I'm trying to earn some money for my mother and father back home. They've fallen into debt and I'm the only income they have right now..." She laid out her plight, hoping for a measure of sympathy.

Murdoch glanced up from his work, "Oh? So once you've earned enough, what after that? Going to head back home?"

No sympathy at all. She didn't really understand. What does 'what I want' have to do with it? Nobody had really bothered asking her before. "I don't know.. I've enjoyed the road so far, I don't think I really want to go back home. I'd like to see more of the frontier, but it is kinda dangerous..."

"Hmm..." Murdoch pondered, then said "I've been lookin' for an apprentice, and looks like yer it. It won't mean any more pay at first, but I'll provide the tools and training. The Fort imports all its ranged fare, so it's not a bad place to do business as a bowyer. Doesn't beat adventuring, but it's not so dangerous either." Murdoch spoke a little more freely than he normally did, he was less tense. Relaxed, even. Obviously the man felt more at home in his own domain. Maeve decided to test that.

"I don't know," Maeve paused, feigning reluctance "I'm not sure if I'll be any good at it." The thought of spending long hours working beside the man was appealing, but she was naturally a bit hesitant. She worked her way through the workshop, standing opposite him and taking a curious peek at the blunted arrows he had been fashioning.

Murdoch smirked, "Me either, but you were plenty of help with the skinning. If nothing else you'd make a good assistant." His expression was one of praise and even a hint of admiration. Realizing his mistake he busied himself with the leather-wrapped arrowheads he had nearly finished. Encouraging her probably wouldn't hurt any, but something felt wrong about the situation and Murdoch couldn't quite place it. Despite her naïveté, she seemed good at placing him at ease; or was it just because of that?

"So what exactly are you offering?" Maeve asked, leaning over the bench and resting her chin in her upturned palms as she looked at Murdoch. Up close and able to see under the leather hat, he didn't look that bad she noticed. He may have seen better years, and could use some grooming, but the subtle look of distinction a man acquires with years has its own charm. She also noted he had green eyes.

Murdoch met her gaze then looked back down, not wholly comfortable with the girl's proximity and stare but not about to admit it either. Fumbling with the completed arrows in front of him he replied, "You work when I work, that's 8 hours a day starting from dawn every day we're in town. I provide the tools and trainin', and once you start showin' some skill you'll get paid 'pendin' on how much help you are."

She paused thoughtfully. The offer was fair enough, but she didn't want to make a habit of agreeing with him too easily. It also seemed like he'd had it decided well before she arrived, which made her feel the need to mess with his plan a little. As if a lightbulb went off in her head she straightened up off the bench and said, "Okay I'll do it, on one condition."

Murdoch looked to her again, arching a brow. He wasn't sure what the bad end of his deal had been, but he'd bite, "Oh?"

She grinned mischievously, "You buy me a mead."

The large man chuckled, out of a rare and genuine mirth rather than any derisiveness. "Very well then, we've got a deal." Finally deciding he was finished with his work here, he gathered the blunted arrows he had been working on into a leather quiver. "By the way, I've got somethin' for ya..." he said, next striding over to the bench with the stack of maps and charts and retrieving a small booklet. "I'd like you to learn that. Oh, and also I'd like you to teach it to Miss Sparkle if you'd be so kind."

Jealousy flared through Maeve's mind briefly. What did she have to do with anything? "What is it?" she asks in a light tone despite her inner thoughts.

"It's a code language, damn near invaluable s'far as I see it. Basically the meanings change based on a code word, which acts as the key. Means I could speak freely without worryin' 'bout bein' overheard in battle if everyone knows it and the code word."

She leafs through the contents idly, furrowing her brow, "Oh." Guilt swept over her for her most recent jealous thought and was quickly replaced with a feeling of disappointment. It wouldn't have killed him to give me something that wasn't work related. "I don't know, seems pretty complicated if I'd have to adjust it each time we went out."

"Not as difficult as you'd think," Murdoch assured her, "it's based off common so it's not like yer learnin' a whole new language. An' speakin' of Miss Sparkle, what's yer read on her? She almost seems too bitter to rely on. I'm not expectin' to be liked, but it'd be nice to know she at least feels we're on the same side out there."

"I don't know..." Maeve said, pondering over it, "rushing after that lizard on her own at her size was rather brave. Not sure how smart it was, though..." come to think of it, Izzy was the only woman Maeve knew out here, aside from the barmaid in the Last Stop.

"Ah well, supposin' time'll tell. By the way, mind me askin' why you don't use a bow?"

"Well, I like to take my enemies out at range, and use my axes if they get in close," she says, almost patting her side where her axes would be but catching herself, remembering that she's wearing her dress and doesn't have them.

"Hmm..." Murdoch looks over her discerningly, in much the same way he'd examine a tool or weapon to see if it was fit for use, or to perhaps even glean how it could be improved. She was light on her feet, and mobile enough, keeping at range is definitely for the best. Still, it seems that cannon she lugs around fires too slow and she could end up in a pinch if she misses.

Maeve cast her eyes downward, embarrassed at his long stare and turning a ripe shade of red.

"Oh well, I'm thinkin' you could use some more practice shadowin' me too but it ken wait fer another evenin'." Murdoch tidies up the workshop and makes ready to leave. Maeve helps but finds herself at odds trying to both be helpful and keep her dress relatively clean and free from soot, wood shavings or saw dust. Normally not so picky about such trifles, she realized they were probably headed to the tavern next and still wanted to look her best. The process is awkward, with her more often getting in the way than helping, but soon enough Murdoch finishes closing up the workshop. The large man strides in his slow and deliberate gait towards the Last Stop, with Maeve following behind.

That is to say, Maeve often gets distracted by the sights around the Fort that she is still new to and discovering, but due in no small part to Murdoch not appearing in any hurry to get there, never falls too far behind before catching back up. Murdoch realizes all too keenly the pair probably looks most like a father and daughter; all he'd need to do is chide Maeve for dallying and the illusion would be complete. The note strikes a painful nostalgic chord with the large man, who silently dismisses the thought as he walks, turning his attention instead to thoughts of planning and charting for future endeavors.

Maeve, now with the tension of the workshop broken, thinks back on Murdoch's behavior so far. He had been much more relaxed in the workshop, and his biting sarcasm had taken a night off, it seemed. Is he beginning to warm up to me? She wondered as she hurried to catch up to him once more as they approached the Last Stop.

-TcJ & Kat-The-Clouded

[Another_Poet]

Afalgar Grimm

When the group gets back from their most recent expedition, they find that a newcomer arrived while they were away. A well-groomed halfling wearing a beautifully knit wool sweater is outside the Last Stopp with a bucker of sudsy water, a stiff brush and a riding mastiff.

He happens to look up as the expedition returns to the fort. A deep smile dawns across his face and he pats the dog on the head before wiping his hands off on a rag and making his way toward the explorers.

"Excuse me, good sirs," he calls as he approaches. "I was told I should look for a Mister Murdoch. I'd be interested in helping to explore this frontier."

He introduces himself as Afalgar Grimm ((and I'm curious to see whether you guys will call him Afalgar, or Grimm :smallcool: )).

[TrenchcoatJesus]

"That'd be me," Murdoch says, sizing up the halfling. Looked a little too clean, and had he been grooming his mount? "Listen, I've got a full day planned, but you can find me in the Last Stop tonight."

Without further delay, much less awaiting much of a response he continues walking. His destinations are the stables, then Vilize, then Yselle's workshop in that order. Most of the group (presumably) follows with him until he splits their pay outside Vilize's, and only Maeve follows him to the workshop.

-TcJ

[Another_Poet]

Afalgar Grimm

The halfling seems unbothered by the curt response. He goes back to his dog and sings an old country air as he scrubs.

Later that evening he finds Murdoch again. This time he shows up with a drink in each hand - one foaming pint of the black stuff which he sets in front of Murdoch, and what looks like a tiny children's mug of the same beer, which he keeps for himself.

He'll ask how many explorers there are, what it's like out here, and how he can go about signing on to a team - if Murdoch doesn't seem too busy.

Otherwise he'll put a deck of cards on the table and begin a game of solitaire to await his turn. Periodically when he gets stuck, he curses at the cards in a joking tone and they change suits or numbers so that he can continue his game. Sometimes he ends up with duplicates of a few cards, but no matter.

[Ryerbiar]

For anyone who searched Kaist room, they would find located on top of his straw bed a fresh piece of parchment, written in ink and penned in fancy, curvy fashion.



The Will of Kaist Furillious

Dear friends,

If you are reading this, then I have most likely met my end out in the Frontier. After my encounter with the Shock Lizards, I had realized the fraility of the mortal body – my own body. While I like to think that I will live forever, we all must die eventually. I had pondered my own mortality after my near death experienced, and have no disillusion that I am not subject to the Reaper's scythe, though I can use my own power too evade it. With this thought in mind I write this will, hopefully it will not be read for a very long time.


To Maeve

While you might already know this, and probably will think me distasteful for saying this – but when I first saw you, I wanted too bed you. I hope I succeeded before this is read. But while I felt an strong lust for you, I also have respect for you – I consider you a friend. When I woke up from the jolt I received, I was never happier too see you. I might not be the greatest man – or the greatest friend for that matter, but I just wanted you too know that I enjoyed our time together, in the bed (hopefully) or in the wild.


To Isabel

Despite your consent threats towards me, I happen too be very fond of you and enjoyed our time together – as well as teasing you. If you were a bit taller and less hostile, I might have chased after you as well, who knows? I grew up with only an older brother, with no siblings younger then me. Being around you made me wish I had a younger sister to tease, to care for, and to protect. This might sound strange with all the times you threatened me, but too tell you the truth I never listened. I've received so much death threats from women it doesn't bother me the least bit. If we're given another life, maybe we could be family then?


My possessions

I wish for my possessions to be sold to the Frontier Fund, with the profit being used to pay for my funeral, as specified below. The left over gold shall be divided eventually and given to Maeve and Isabel. In the event that Maeve would die before this will is read, I would like that her family would be found and given her share of the money. In the event that her family can not be located, then her share is too be given to Isabel. In the event that Isabel is dead before receiving her share, then give her share to Maeve. If both women are dead, then just donate all the the to Maeve's family if they are found, or the fund if they can not be found.


My Funeral

If my body is recovered, then I wish to be cremated and placed into a urn. I want this urn buried on the east side of the fort, so the sun rises onto my grave. I wish for a head stone or some other kind of stone maker for my grave, with my name and my nickname "Tombstone" engraved into the stone. I also ask that Maeve and Isabel bury with me a token, a small possession of theirs, in my urn. If my body is unable to be recovered, then I wish for a doll in my likeness be buried in place of the urn, with Maeve and Isabel's token buried next too the doll.


I pray that this will will never be read, but in the case it is
Goodbye Friends

His only possessions located in his room was 50 feet of hemp rope and 62 gold pieces, and 5 silver pieces.

[Another_Poet]

Afalgar Grimm

When the expedition does not come back on time, the soldiers at the fort are sure that it means they're all dead. Afalgar is not quite as cynical, he insists to himself - he just wants to know what these adventurers keep behind closed doors.

So he takes it upon himself to claim their goods, read their wills and settle things. He spend the past day reading up on the Fund. He perused some of the Annals but found them rather dry - there's got to be a better way to record stories than in the clipped shorthand of these nobles who were in charge of it. Plus the whole book seems not to have been updated in weeks. Ugh.

Anyhow, he knows enough that he can honour Kaist's will and put his money in the fund. He finds himself feeling a strange sympathy for the human, reading about his secret love and admiration for fellows who likely went to the grave beside him.

Afalgar has no intention of searching out Maeve's family, so he puts all the money in the Fund. He keeps the rope however - might be handy. He does get a little rag doll to bury but decides to say a little service on his own rather than troubling himself with a priest. Priests... who needs 'em?

After burying the doll and marking the grave as requested, he goes to check the other adventurers' rooms.

((Let me know what else I find in your rooms guys - I'll do my best to honour the wills.))

[Morbius]

In Morbius room rested a simple piece of Parchment:

I pray that I am able to reunite with my brothers and sisters before someone else reads this, but I saw people die so easily here that I a not so sure about that, at least if I died I died as close as I could to reunite with them and if their fate is the same as my own we are now feasting at the great halls of justice.
As for my belongings I leave half my gold to the church and half my gold and whatever equipment at my room for the fund, for the use of the poor news souls who dare to venture in this cursed place.

He had 432 on his room, so 216 to the fund and 216 to the church. Plus he had Light Horse(at the stables, not his room of course) , a Scale Mail, a Buckler and a Crowbar.

EDIT: I adjusted the fund totals, in special the gear section that was listing 1500s worth of gear but before adding my own there was only 500 (maybe TCJ when he sold the axe?). I just hope such error was not made with the gold

[Kat-The-Clouded]

There seems to be no will found in Maeve's room - maybe she thought that having one was simply bad luck. But in her room she had quiet a few things.

You will find 1 heavy crossbow with 17 bolts, 2 throwing axes, and 3 bags of caltrips. Along with 2 platinum 210 gp 8 Silver 9 Copper - and if one looks hard enough they will also find her diary tucked underneath her mattress.


Day 1


It didn't take long for me to cause trouble, the first 15 minutes in and I almost killed my self a local adventurer. Damn cross bow - I didn't realize it was loaded. Maybe it was for the best though because that is how I ran into Kaist; he was odd, but a good man, I can't get the small feeling that he only wanted one thing from me though. We talked for almost two ales worth before our presence was demanded by another, an older man who needed a shave and a sober slap to the face, but he certainly had a commanding authority around him so I followed as did Kaist, who always seemed to walk behind me instead of at my side. It was a good thing I followed I was able to make a take a few coin from the elder and he set us up with our first adventuring task, a hunt! -- I will return diary

1 Week later

We snagged ourselves a lizard and a half! What a great catch. I also was able to get to know the people it looks like I will be fighting with for the next few months.
Isabel - a short girl, she is very nice to me but not to the others...maybe her size makes her fear and hate men.

Morbius - An easy to love dwarf who always seems good hearted. He also has the knack to grow as big as a tree! I was thankfully able to sleep in his tent and away from the pouring rain, Isabel and Kaist for some reason didn't take to the tents, how they survived i still don't know.

Kaist - Its not hard to see that he has some sort of infatuation with both me and Isabel which is more a nuisance then anything. Why is it that boys fall for me and not men, ba-humbugh I think is the expression.

Murdoch - speaking of falling for people I think I have done so for an older man, the 'drunk' I had spoken of before. I think its the look of the woodsman and the role of authority that i find most appealing, I doubt he sees me in the same light. I suppose I will have to leave that to simply be a fantasy.

No other days are kept - she wasn't the best at keeping up with things.


(I take it they kudi-graed her if not I wouldn't mind a chance to escape XD)

[Another_Poet]

Afalgar Grim

Afalgar honours Morbius' will except that he keeps the crowbar for himself ((I have edited the Fund)).

Going through Maeve's belongings, he's not sure what to do. She left a diary but no will. He had started looking everywhere for the will and that was how he stumbled on the diary - he'd hoped it would contain some indication of what to do with her things, so he read the whole thing in a hurry barely paying attention to the words.

When he reached the end he flipped through many blank pages and realised that was it; no will to be had. It was then his natural curiosity took over and he decided to go back and re-read it and actually pay attention.

By the end of the short few pages he found a tear running down his cheek. He quickly rubbed it dry as if someone might see him, ha. So that's what goes on here... entire groups vanish never to be seen again... What will happen to me?

With a sniffle, he snapped the book shut and began to pile her stuff into the borrowed hand-cart he was using for his grim task.

This is how he deals with it:
1 heavy crossbow with 17 bolts - put in Fund
2 throwing axes - put in Fun
3 bags of caltrips - he keeps them
230.89 gp - healing scrolls
Diary - buried in an otherwise empty grave with her name on it. He wrapped neatly in waxed leather first. He seems to think everybody is as curious as he is, and figures that if her family ever shows up they will want to read it.

About the healing scrolls:
Afalgar goes to the temple for the second time today. Damn it, now the friggin' priest seems to like him, just because he stopped by and dropped off a big sack of Morbius' money earlier. Shoulda just kept it... he grumbles under his breath.

He dumps a new pile of money on the man's desk and says, "This time it's not free. I'm looking to buy some scrolls of healing spells. Yer Reverence."

The priest laughs and asks if he even knows how to use such scrolls. Afalgar starts to get the feeling the man just enjoys picking on him. He gets a little touchy.

"Gimme a scroll of Harm and we'll find out!" he bellows in his very loudest halfling bellow.

After a few more jokes and taunts from the insufferable priest Afalgar has in his hands 9 scrolls of Cure Light Wounds.

One of these he sticks in his belt for personal use. The other eight he intended to put in the fund... but as he continues to review the records of the fund, he decides against it. "Hmm.... this unidentified potion has been in here forever and no one has ever tried to do anything with it. If I put these scrolls in, what's gonna happen to them?" He almost feels like taking a bunch of things out of the Fund for safekeeping, but he doesn't feel right. No one ever gave him control of the Fund, it just sort of fell to him.

In the end, he decides to leave the Fund as-is but he holds on to the ten scrolls for now. If other adventurers show up he can dole them out to those who can use them or save them to use on those who can't.

((My sheet now has: 1 scroll CLW personal use; 8 scrolls CLW for the group))

* * * * *

Wait wait wait there are KOBOLDS?

...is the cry that can be heard from his room that evening as he studies the Annals. Kobolds, he's heard of them but never seen one! He reads on with ever-growing excitement as he sees that a treaty was actually made! But, it seems that the explorers have had a hard time living up to it...

Well, no wonder, thinks Afalgar. The terms are terrible... we'll have to renegotiate that... He blinks. 'We?' Ah, Affie you are going bonkers...

Still, a look at the calendar reveals that the next meeting is coming up soon. He remembers the gnoll heads hanging from the window of one of the rooms at the fort, and the small leathers and other small equipment in the Fund. Sh*t, everything is in place... if someone went out to meet them we could actually go somewhere with this.... There was that word "we" again.

He walks to the rampart near the south gate and scans the horizon by the setting sunlight. Are any other explorers on their way? Will they show up in time? Would they even be willing to go with him, after what happened to the others?

[TrenchcoatJesus]

After having been granted use of Yselle's workshop for crafting, Murdoch's room is nearly empty. It barely looks lived in. In fact, there's barely anything in there. Upon careful inspection, you find... exactly what was in the room to begin with.

Yselle, however, has inherited the following which is all contained within workbenches in her workshop:
Artisan's Tools (Skinning)
Raw Materials (Composite Longbow) - nearly 25% complete
Raw Materials (Arrows x60)
MW Artisan's Tools (Bowmaking) 5 lb.
44 gp

Before leaving, his last words to Yselle (in a joking manner) were: "If I don't come back, find my stuff a good home," which had been the same words he'd used to say goodbye for the last four expeditions as well. She's likely reluctant to believe he isn't coming back ((Mourdos can say for sure what her reaction is, I'm just guessing)).

Asking around the temple, you find that Murdoch did indeed have a will, and they had been holding it in his trust until just before he left on the last expedition. They found it very odd that he wished to withdraw it before leaving, but he insisted on taking it with him this time. They aren't too sure why.

Murdoch's only tangible legacy at the fort seems to be his extensive charts and maps, which he had maintained and updated after each expedition. Final copies of these are left within the "public" section of the Fund, alongside the annals. There are drafts and notes of these maps within Yselle's workshop as well.

-TcJ

[Drodic]

Drodic

Finally we're here Drodic thinks to himself, eager to find some easy targets for quick cash. After passing through the forts main gate Drodic immediately parts with Alton, deciding that the guards would have to be out of the question, seeing how Alton couldn't get him out of hot water if anything went wrong. while scoping out likely targets he noticed a halfling leaving what seemed to be a temple pocketing several scrolls.

This shouldn't be too hard thought Drodic, doing his best to blend with the crowd, slowly closing the distance between the two.

Sure that no one was watching, he made his move on the unsuspecting little man, going for as many scrolls as he could reach.

Sleight of Hand 1: [roll0]
Sleight of Hand 2: [roll1]
Sleight of Hand 3: [roll2]
Sleight of Hand 4: [roll3]
Sleight of Hand 5: [roll4]
Sleight of Hand 6: [roll5]
Sleight of Hand 7: [roll6]
Sleight of Hand 8: [roll7]
Sleight of Hand 9: [roll8]

((I intend on at least one of these to fail. after all, what better way for a rogue to meet new people? :smalltongue:))

[Koury]

Alton Eldon

Alton had been aware of his traveling companions rising excitement as they neared the fort and was not surprised in the least when, as soon as they stepped into the fort, Drodic went off to cause who-knows-what mischief.

Alton himself took this oppertunity to familiarize himself with this new place. This didn't take as long as he had expected it to though and soon found himself feeling bored. That won't last long though, knowing Drodic. Alton thought to himself. Speaking of, I better go find him before he gets us thrown out already.

Alton began wondering around town in search of his friend.

[Another_Poet]

Afalgar Grim

As Afalgar leaves the temple for the umpteenth time some annoying human comes up and starts talking to him. He's about to blow the guy off when he realises the man just lifted one of his scrolls out of his pocket! Afalgar frantically pats his belt pouch - half the others are gone too!

"Hold it pal!" he hollers. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't put you into a coma!"

It looks like he holds a spell component pouch in one hand, so the threat may have some teeth to it.

[Koury]

"Sir, please!"

Alton apparently had come just in time to see Drodic get caught stealing. "There is no need for anyone to put anyone into a coma here today." Alton glares at Drodic. "Drodic WILL be returning whatever he has stolen from you, right now, and also apologize. Perhaps over a drink at the Last Stop? I've seen you around town and maybe you could actually help us get our bearings around here. We've heard of a lot of interesting things about this area and could use any help we could get preparing an expedition. Any help you could give us in that regard would be greatly appreciated."

Alton hoped he had been able to both find a source of information about the area and get his friend out of trouble simultaneously.

[Another_Poet]

Afalgar Grim

Afalgar eyes the other human (right?) suspiciously. He knows thieves often work in pairs, with one acting to distract a mark while the other does the crime.

"Give back the scrolls first," he says. He counts them off as they are handed to him. "I'll accept a drink, but you walk in front of me. And don't sit too close. I'm not risking what little gold I have here."

He'll go to the Last Stop with them. When asked for his order he requests a halfling-sized glass of wine mixed with water. A civilised drink, and one that won't leave him too drunk to notice further pickpocketing. But he will sit opposite the pair at a table and hear them out.

[Arkaim]

It's been a long time, huh?

How are you guys doing? How is Maxymiuk? I hope this campaign became what you all hoped it would be. I still think the whole idea of this to be really cool.

I was just a stupid little kid when I first joined this campaign but I still think it's cool. Heh. Musta had good tastes that kid. Yeah... just a dumb kid...

I know you guys think I ruined your fun. Max told me. Everyone found me annoying. I just wanted you all to know... it was all unintentional. I didn't mean any of it. I was just an overexcited kid who shoulda been on meds. I didn't mean any of it. It genuinely caught be by surprise that I was so... unwanted. I understand. You guys just want your fun. Not drama. That makes sense. I still think back to what happened though. I still feel bad about it. Sometimes real bad... well okay.

It looks like the fun is over though. I don't know how many of you guys are still around. I don't know if Max is around. I sent him a few messages over the years explaining how I didn't mean any of it. No reply. I can only guess he blocked me after disinviting me to this adventure. Okay. I understand. No drama. I don't know if Max told you all though. So I want to tell you all. Sorry. For being that overeager kid. You know the one.

I guess... this is my closure. I hope the record is settled. Sayonara