Red Hand of Doom [SPEED RUN] [IC]

[Athaleon]

A small and mostly Human town, like countless Marik had seen. The Material Plane was full of such settlements, so remarkably similar despite the vast distances in between. Yet time and perspective had given him an odd respect for these places, and their people—he'd disdained such backwater towns in his youth, when he thought the Capitol spires he'd grown up around were the height of civilization. He shook off his reverie as they were brought before the Captain.

"We do have a prisoner for you. And we'd already taken the liberty of questioning him, at least a little. If you'd like to hear us out, we could discuss things somewhere private?" After a moment, Marik introduced them, as though an afterthought. "Oh—this is Leilani, and I am Marik. Travelers, indeed." He waited until they truly were in private before he would give details.

[Chambers]

Drellin's Ferry - Old Toll House

The Captain slowly nods in assent as she finishes whatever private evaluation goes on behind her eyes, then motions to one of the guards. "Your tiger won't fit inside, but there's a barn on the other side of this building where they can stay while we talk. If that's aggregable, my men here will escort the tiger...what's its name?"

"Mar-ik. Lei-lan-i." The old man says, rolling the words in his mouth as if hearing them for the first time. "Strange names." He says and then shrugs. "Mine is Norro Wiston, the Speaker for Drellin's Ferry. Yes, if you will vouchsafe for your beast then we can have some proper introductions inside. After you, please." The old man has recovered from the shock of seeing the large tiger and speaks with a smoothness and ease that fits well with his title.

Inside the building the air is cool and pleasant from the morning heat outside. Minor illusionary torches provide the light for large open room which appears to be some sort of court house. Past rows of benches is a larger table on a dais with high backed chairs. Off to the right is the stone staircase leading both up and down stairs. Some more guards are hanging around a door that leads further into the Hall and they stand up when the Captain and Speaker come inside. "My office is on the third floor above us. If you'll allow me..." He says as he moves in front and heads up the stairs.

The landing on the second level shows a hallway that splits off into other rooms but Norro closes the door before you can get more than a quick glance. Continuing up the stairs he pulls a thick key from somewhere in his robes and unlocks the door, stepping in and aside to let everyone in. The room covers half the space of the floor and opens out into a balcony that looks over the river. Storage cabinets are lined up against one wall, with tables nearby covered in maps and letters. One the other side of the room is a large desk with half a dozen plush chairs before it in a semi-circle. A servant stands next to a sideboard and quickly begins to assemble a tray of hot drinks, pastries, and sweet meats once he sees you enter. Captain Soranna stands next to the desk and tries to assume a relaxed posture but she isn't very convincing.

"Please, have a seat. You must be weary from your travels." He says as he walks in behind you and the Captain, leaving the door open as he goes to sit behind his desk. "Take refreshment as you would." He pauses to take a cup of hot tea from the servant - freshly poured - and sips it. "While there's many things I'd like to ask you, tradition dictates that the guests have the first tale. So please, tell us your story, or ask what story you would have of us."

[Athaleon]

"Our tale is simple enough," Marik began. "We were ambushed by some Hobgoblins on the road northeast of here, but they certainly expected... simpler travelers than us. We defeated the ambush, of course, and made our way here. We found a ruined farmhouse nearby, and I'm sorry to say, five dead men: One who looked a farmer, one who looked a wealthy man, and three guards." He gave their descriptions, as well as a detailed location of the burial site, as well as he could recall.

"That Hob we brought in, we tried to question ourselves as best we could. He didn't say much beyond threats and boasting of the strength of his warlord, Azarr Kull, who apparently means to take this town and the whole of the Vale. I can't be certain whether they truly have the strength to pull that off, or if that was just a captive's bravado. But what's especially troubling is that they are devoted to Tiamat—the accursed goddess and queen of evil dragons. As such, they are most likely led by a powerful dragon-blooded mortal, if not an actual chromatic dragon." Marik let that settle before he continued. After all, he didn't know whether most or all of this was already known to them.

[Chambers]

Drellin's Ferry - Old Toll House

Norro takes careful notes of your descriptions of the victims while the frown on Soranna's face gets deeper as she listens to your tale. "You buried them?" Norro asks with a raised eyebrow. "A touch of grace, to ease their passing." He says and gives you a deep nod. He sighs before taking another sip from his tea. "I'm glad that you survived the attack but unfortunately this is not the first ambush we've had. It's been....how long now?" He says, turning to Soranna.

"Eleven days. At least twice that in dead or wounded...that we know about." She says, her fingers tightening around her sword hilt.

"Yes, eleven. Thank you." Norro says. "They're keeping to the outlying homesteads and further along the Dawn Way. They haven't attacked the town, so far, but we've lost too many people as it is. It's not the first time we've had trouble with them, mostly on the other side of the river, but this feels different."

"They're scouts, Norro." Soranna says. Her eyes look past you to some distant memory. "Their numbers, tactics...it all says there's a larger force some distance behind them. When they finally come down the Wyrmsmoke to our town they'll roll right through us, gods help us."

Norro clears his throat and sifts in his chair. "Uh...um, Captain, we don't know for certain how many..."

Soranna slams her mailed fist onto the desk. "It's the goddamned horde, Norro!" She shouts at him. "The horde! You haven't seen this. You don't know what it's like." Norro lifts his tea cup to hide his reaction to her outburst and she slaps it out of his hand. "Everyone here..." She says in a low voice, suddenly still. "...is going to die."

"That's...well, I mean that's, maybe..." Norro says, scrambling up out of his seat to put some distance between himself and the Captain. "Chromatic? Sorry, you said they're a cult of Tia-, the dragon queen? That's not that surprising, the Wyrmsmoke Mountains did earn their name, after all. Uh...Azarr Kull, you said? That name familiar to you, Captain?"

"No." She says, returning to her posture as before, though less stiff and formal now. "I don't know their names here." She looks over the two of you again as if seeing something for the first time. "You said you defeated their ambush, but you don't have a scratch on you. Healing magic would stitch the wounds..." She says, "...but there's no rips in your clothes or blood stains from your injuries. Maybe it wasn't an ambush." She says, her fingers tightening around her sword hilt, a small smile on her face. "Maybe this is the ambush."

"Uh, Captain! No, I'm sure that's not, they had the one on the tigers..." He says. "Please, settle down Soranna. You're getting too worked up." He says and pauses. "Attacking them won't bring her back." He says quietly.

Soranna holds the fire in her eyes for another long heartbeat before dropping it. All the energy drains from her as she collapses into one of the chairs. Norro comes out from behind his desk and places a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, please forgive her. She's lost someone dear recently, to these attacks. It's been difficult, for everyone."

[DrK]

Leilani

Leilani nods sympathetically to the Captain and the Speaker. "So many... That cannot be allowed to go unpunished." Tilting her sapphire eyes towards Marik she shakes her head, "I know we have our quest Marik but this cannot go unanswered. This town and the surrounding communities need our help. Regular goblinoids could be reasoned with but we saw from that one we took with us and their words here these ones are inspired by the Queen of Darkness."

She swings her gaze round to look at the young Captain. "You ask why we were not harmed Captain... but listen to our tale. We are from other planes of existence travelling between worlds. My friend Marik here manipulates time itself and I can rain and lightning in great swathes whilst riding my tiger... We are not typical travellers." She looks at the speaker, "If you could draw map or direct us to where some of them have been we can ride out today and start taking the fight to them on your behalf. We ask nothing save a comfortable bed from time to time as we resolve this."

[Chambers]

Drellin's Ferry - Old Toll House

Captain Soranna doesn't respond to anything Leilani says and just sits with her eyes unfocused, staring out over the river. Norro looks a bit concerned though. "I'm sorry, did you just say you're from another world?" The servant - who stood by quietly during the Captain's outburst - also finally reacts and takes a few steps away, back towards the sideboard.

"I don't...I don't know anything about those matters, but maybe you'd like to talk to our town's mage, hmm?" Norro ask. He snaps his hand at the servant. "Go fetch Sertieren." The servant bows and quicksteps it out of the room and down the stairs.

"Ah...ahem." Norro strecthes his neck and clears his throat. "In the meantime, I do have maps!" He says and walks over to the other side of the room, motioning for you to follow him. The two large tables are covered with all different kinds of maps from maps taller than either of you that show a painted rendition of the valley to small sketches drawn to assign fields of fire. "We've been trying to identify where the hobgoblin....horde, could be, and where it might travel to." He looks behind him to Soranna for any assistance but she's still not responding.

"Right, I'll start with a brief overview of local ecology and history of the Elsir Vale, going back a few hundred years to the founding of ..." Norro says and launches into a long history and explanation of the larger maps. He points out the major settlements in the area, the two largest a town named Brindol further east on the river and Dennovar, the only proper city in the Vale at it's far eastern reaches. A dozen or so named villages are scattered across the Vale and he points out the important geological features.

Wyrmsmoke Mountains: "Not even the dwarves take the pass through the Wyrmsmokes anymore, too many goblins."
Witchwood Forest: "No more than a stone throw across the river, really, but we stay away because of the spirits that haunt it."
Blackfens: "Sad remains of what happened to Rhest, just a half-sunken city sinking lower each day."
Wyvenwatch Mountains: "No pass goes over those peaks, but some dwarves do live within them."
Westdeep: "Wild elves claim those woods and will not suffer anyone else to trespass."
Vraath Keep: "An old fortress not far from here that may be a stronghold for the goblins."
Dawn Way: "This is our merchants road, the lifeblood of the Vale along with the river."

"...and that's how the kingdom of Rhestilor fell two hundreds years ago, burned by a horde that shattered itself against the cities defenses." Norro says, stopping when he hears steps coming up the stairs. The servant enters the room and steps to the side, bowing to Norro. "Speaker, may I present Sertieren the Wise."

"He knows who I am." The elderly halfling says, shaking his head as he slowly walks into the room. "When are you going to move your office somewhere with fewer stairs, hmmm Norro?" He takes a moment to stop and catch his breath and clean the moisture off his spectacles. His hair is a dishelved mop of white and his robes are clean, except for the ink stains around his sleeves.

Norro smiles and walks over and goes to one knee to gently embrace the halfing. "When then would you get your exercise?" The halfling grunts and glances at the still silent Captain but just sighs before turning to face the two of you. "So. You are the ones who brought the tiger into town." He says with a smile and gleam in his eye. "How wonderful! My name is Sertieren. How may I be of service?"

[Athaleon]

Leilani nods sympathetically to the Captain and the Speaker. "So many... That cannot be allowed to go unpunished." Tilting her sapphire eyes towards Marik she shakes her head, "I know we have our quest Marik but this cannot go unanswered. This town and the surrounding communities need our help. Regular goblinoids could be reasoned with but we saw from that one we took with us and their words here these ones are inspired by the Queen of Darkness."

Marik simply nodded agreement. He wasn't totally sure this was unrelated to their quest—evil dragons plagued countless realms, but it was struck him as odd that they would be up against a cult of Tiamat so soon after their last encounter with a Chromatic dragon.

Norro smiles and walks over and goes to one knee to gently embrace the halfing. "When then would you get your exercise?" The halfling grunts and glances at the still silent Captain but just sighs before turning to face the two of you. "So. You are the ones who brought the tiger into town." He says with a smile and gleam in his eye. "How wonderful! My name is Sertieren. How may I be of service?"

"They, ah, believed that since the two of us are magic users that you should be summoned—also being a magic user, after all." He tried to keep the amusement out of his tone. "Come to think of it... do either of you know anything about a 'Vault' here in the Vale? Or have you heard of some 'Tooth' of legend? We come from very far away, and have very, very little to go on. But I have a hunch that one or both of those may be the true objective of this cult of Tiamat."

[Chambers]

Drellin's Ferry - Old Toll House

"Oh ho! Two more odd fellows in town? Delightful." Sertieren says, clapping his hands together. "Does the tiger talk then? I've always wanted to talk with a tiger. Is it a deep, growling voice or more raspy, like a, like...well, I guess I don't know what they might sound like. Never heard one talk before!"

Norro coughs and pats Sertieren on the shoulder. "Uh, no that's not why I -" "Don't reckon I've heard of a legendary tooth. Vault though..." The halfling interrupts Norro and walks over to the maps on the table. "I'd wager half a crown that you're looking at Vrath Keep. Was a fortress at one time and I've heard rumors of a treasure vault hidden within it." He points to the Keep on the map and frowns when he notices that it's already circled, then pauses to read the notes. "Ah. Right." He straightens his robe and his face becomes somber. "The Keep may be occupied right now."

Norro walks over and places his hand on his shoulder again. "Yes, we've already been over that. I asked you here because - " "You're from outside the Vale, obviously." Sertieren says, interrupting Norro again and walking back to the sideboard. The servant pours a cup of tea and hands it to the mage. "But how far out? Are you really just treasure hunters? What do you know about this cult? Did you stop in Brindol on the way here? There's another fellow there - " "Gods above, Sertieren!" Norro shouts, interrupting the halfling. Sertieren looks stunned like he'd just been slapped.

"I asked you here because they said they're from another world! Talking nonsense about planes of existence! You're the wizard! Do something!" Norro says, keeping a map table in between himself and the two of you. Sertieren shakes his head to clear it and frowns at the Speaker, then turns towards you. "I apologize for the Speaker's behavior. Everyone here is under a great deal of stress at the moment..." He says and lets his gaze linger on the Captain, still in a daze. "Just for formalities sake to ease his mind, if you'll permit me to divine within your presence?"

Sertieren says a quick rhyme and snaps his fingers, making his eyes turn blue. He focuses them on each of you and stumbles backwards, crashing into a chair and falling over it. The servant runs over to help him up as the halfling is sputtering. "No, I don't believe it. Not even Aragathos shines as bright. Are....are you angels?"

Spoiler

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He cast Arcane Sight.

[DrK]

Leilani

Leilani laughs a deep sultry laugh as the old man looks at them both and stumbles back. "If you must know I am from a far away place named the Shadow Marshes near the border with the Eldeen forest in the north west corner of the 5 nations. Under the 13 dragons I was born but I have long since left that world behind." As she speaks she pulls up the long diaphonous dress revealing the tatoos and swirling dragonmarks that run all the way up to her mid thigh before being visible again around her upper shoulders.

"We are not treasure hunters, in truth aside from a curios I doubt you have much of value here for some such as us. But we are dedicated to bringing the light when we travel. We can investigate this keep and see about destroying this cult that has been troubling you. As for the tiger... SHE does talk, but her voice is a sweet whisper." She smiles at them both. "Here, this is a downpayment for food and drink for us and my lovely companion, she may require a sheep or two if we are back." she smiles as pulls out a delicate belt pouch and counts out 20 Brelish crowns, each stamped with the floating towers of Sharn.

That done and glancing at Marik she'll gesture towards the distant mountains. "If you can point us to the last known locations of the Cult we can scout out this afternoon"

[Athaleon]

"Despite the appearance of this armor spell, no, I am but a man. I grew up in the realm of Avendor, so distant that in truth I could not tell you how far away it lies. I belonged to an order of warrior-magi that... suffice to say, were defeated by a power far stronger than ourselves." He shook his head ruefully. "That is why I walk in exile, and why I help fight the good fight where I can make a difference."

"We can scout, for starters. We should also get word out to the wider world. Is this town part of a larger nation, one that could raise an army in its own defense? Speaking of which, we did not come via Brindol. Is that a large city? The seat of a ruler?"

[Chambers]

Drellin's Ferry - Old Toll House

"Angels?" Captain Soranna says, snapping her head up and looking around in confusion. Sertieren flings a hand towards the map table and a quill pops up and starts writing down the words Leilani says. "Shadow Marshes...Eldeen...13 dragons...." He says quietly under his breath as the quill bops up and down above the parchment. "Magnificent markings..." Serieren flexes his fingers and another quill animates and begins drawing the tattoos on another parchment. "...Avendor..." The hafling mutters to himself while the quills scribble away, his gaze locked on the two of you.

"Uhm...well." Norro says. "That was rather embarrassing. Still not sure where you're from...but it seems clear you're not here to add to our troubles." He manages to say, but still keeping the tables between you and him. Soranna stands up and ignores the mage and the speaker as she approaches Leilani. "You said you're going to kill these goblins? Get every one of them?" Soranna points out the window to the smoky mountains in the distance. "That's where they live."

"Yes, we think they're headquartered in the Wyrmsmoke. That's where they've traditionally raided from." Norro says, finally stepping around the table to come closer and put a slight restraining hand on Soranna's shoulder. "There was the beginning of a nation, once, with Rhestilor. Now it's independent towns and villages, though Dennovar would be the closest thing we have to a capitol. It's about 180 miles east, following the river. That's where Aragathos, the archmage, lives."

"Only in title, Norro. There hasn't been a true archmage since the old tales." Sertieren says, correcting the Speaker. "Even he is a torch besides these blazing suns. Uh, wait a moment!" He says, searching through his many pockets until he pulls out a nub of wax. One of the quills switches to a fresh parchment and he scribbles out a note. "If you go to him, please carry this letter. I suspect it will prevent some of the difficulties encountered here." The quill finishes and he lets you read the short note before folding it over and placing the wax on it. He snaps his fingers and the wax melts with an impression of his wizard mark in it.

Spoiler: Sertieren's Note

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My friend, these are NOT angels. They are extra-dimensional travellers! One of them has a talking tiger! Yours fraternally, Sertieren.

[DrK]

Leilani

Leilani looks with a sharp glance at the man at mention of "markings" before nodding and smiling at mention of the tiger and their obvious fascination with them as strange extraplanar beings. Looking out towards the mountain her eyes narrow and she nods. "In the mountains you say. Well then that seems easy enough." She glances at her colleague, "Shall we head towards the goblins then and see what we can find. I think that would be more productive than seeking out another archmage to talk of magics few can understand."

She grins at Norro, "In truth I only understand magics that explode". But she will start to gather her things, a brief smile, "Sorry, could you send a runner down to saddle the tiger, but a decent chunk of meat for her would be wonderful."

[Athaleon]

"That sounds as good a starting place as any. I doubt capture and questioning will yield any better result than before, so there's little else for it but to go out there and see what we can see. Fortunately we can go far, and see further."

[DrK]

Leilani

Leilani nods, "If we can get my tiger saddled up we can head out with some rapidity. I'm he'll enjoy the hunting as well" Leilani says. Looking at the mountains through the windows she stops to smile at them room in general, "This is an attractive plane and area, wild, uncontrolled and exciting to explore." she adds. Taking her leave she heads down to the stable to tickle Solarii's whiskers before she vaults into the saddle and nods to Malik who she suspects will be faster than her and starts trotting out of town quickly glittering with glowing magic emanating from her (and the tiger)

[Athaleon]

"Vraath Keep seems to be fairly close by," Marik pointed out to Leilani on the map. "I suppose that's as good a place as any to start poking around and seeing what comes crawling out. If it really is a stronghold of theirs, it's likely also a staging ground for a push across the river. I'm still fresh enough to head out straight away, if you are."

He turned to Soranna and Sertieren next. "I assume warnings and requests for aid have already been sent across this territory. Once we have more specific information about this Hobgoblin threat, it would be worth sending out another round of messages. Also, I believe it will still be worth seeing Aragathos. As strong as I am in the Talent, I have often found I can still learn more from those with less power but more experience. In turn I'd be willing to provide knowledge to him, or to any Wizard of good character who will aid us in this fight, whatever their strength. The two of us cannot be everywhere at once, after all, and we may well be glad of every torch and candle we can get."

[Chambers]

Drellin's Ferry

"Allow me to call the ferry for you." Norro says as he walks downstairs with you. "Normally there's a fee, but..." He waves his hand and walks ahead to the riverbank where a huge capstan is affixed with heavy ropes that span the water. Horses tied to the capstan turn it and move the barge back and forth across the river. The attendant looks like he's not happy about having to accomodate the large tiger but he manages to calm the horses enough so that they don't try to break their restraints.

Norro offers a handshake as you board the ferry and leans in close to speak softly. "I'm not certain that you aren't running off to your dooms...but that's your business. For what it's worth, I hope you come back." He steps back and nods as the horses on the opposite bank move their wheel and pull the barge across the river. "Farewell."

The trip takes only a few minutes which is enough time for a small crowd to have gathered on the west bank. The half-dozen farmers and other townsfolk give you plenty of room as you disembark and the attendant on this side of the river either isn't as skilled or lucky with his horses as one of them requires his full attention to keep from breaking. "Just go, please!" He shouts out to you, waving you off. Some of the watchers go over to give him a hand.

The few buildings on this side of the river quickly give way to farmland with the forest behind it and the Wyrmsmoke mountains looming even further in the distance. It's less than an hours walk to the edge of the forest. Looking back east before heading in, the sun sits high in the noon sky and Drellin's Ferry looks fragile. It's easy to picture the peaceful farming town overrun by the horde, buildings on fire, blood in the streets, dark billows of smoke rising up into the air. A vision both of you have seen before and know too well.

The Witchwood forest in front of you is a pleasant diversion from the thoughts behind you. The Dawn Way road is clear and easy to walk, but off the road is heavy undergrowth with plenty of vegetation and evidence of game. Leilani feels that the forest is healthy and alive and shows minimal signs of clearing from the people of Drellin's Ferry.

Spoiler: Map

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You're at the bottom of the map, on the Dawn Way where it enters the forest. It's about noon-ish.

[DrK]

Leilani

Leiani hops up atop the massive tiger and walks a few paces into the woods, a hand brushing the trees and bushes that bend and twist towards the druid to feel her touch. She grins at Marik, "A beautiful place. Vibrant, full of life it is not too infected yet by the Queen of Dragons or her spawn" she offers the last with a smlie, before nodding to the muddy road and leaning forward into the heavy fur. "Com y beauty, run" she whispers and holds on tight as the huge tiger begins loping forward, Leilani keeping eyes amd ears peeled for trouble.


Follow the path curving NW
Tiger will hustle (100ft / round)

Spot (1d20+26)[45] Listen (1d20+26)[27] Survival (1d20+26)[45]

[Athaleon]

Marik flew alongside, keeping pace with the tiger. He saw little point to flying higher; in the sky he would be a beacon visible to anyone for miles around who happened to look in his direction, but he would be unlikely to see them beneath the forest canopy.

Spoiler

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Spot: (1d20+24)[26]
Listen: (1d20+19)[36]