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Line 277: |
| * Randir cries out. Chasing after the elf. Unable to come close to catching him. | | * Randir cries out. Chasing after the elf. Unable to come close to catching him. |
| * Someone has called the city guard. | | * Someone has called the city guard. |
|
| |
| === 12/12/2020 ===
| |
| * We go to visit Zelias and he heals us a lil
| |
| * He asks us what we know about the gods
| |
| * Randir knows of them, but does not have any real thought of them
| |
| * Theo doubts the "power" of the gods
| |
| * Zelias says thgere are things older than the gods... things in the earth
| |
| ** Ya know, like the computer we met
| |
| * Some say it has bene years since the gods have spoken to the people
| |
| ** Stories say they come down to the world to influence things and display their power
| |
| * Is the Empress of that kind?
| |
| ** She's thee "grand daughter" of a god... right?
| |
| * When Araman Sur bled, it created wonderous areas in the world
| |
| ** If his blood held that power, imagine what he could do?
| |
| * But these "gods" are mortal. They have emotions but they are mortal.
| |
| * If we want to know more about her past, Stratus Stormwall is a scholar at the library or at the Order of Truth who knows more about it.
| |
| * Randir offers to come have some tea sometime soon, just to hang out
| |
| * We head back out into Caer Sen
| |
| * We head over to the Order of Truth
| |
| * We talk to this bro named Stratus Stormwall, blue skinned duded
| |
| * Dude talks to us about magic, the empress didn't use components to make her magic work... right?
| |
| * If she knows so much about magic, maybe that's what makes her a god?
| |
| * She was educated in the Order of Truth
| |
| * This dude seems very interested in Resurrection magic...
| |
| * We break for dinner deciding... even with Randir's hesistation, we will help the Empress in her quest
| |
| * We rest.... THEN WE LEVEL UP!!!!!!
| |
| * The next morning, we head to see the Cinder Root Trio to check if Commander Foss has been around
| |
| ** No one has been around, they're doing well
| |
| * We head out to see the Empress... and a small group of bluecoats seem to look away from us as we notice them
| |
| * We walk away...
| |
| * Suddenly, a dwarf pops out: [Something] Craghelm
| |
| ** He welcomes us
| |
| * Ulertu and Randir overhear hr advisor saying, "She may NOT leave the palace."
| |
| ** RUH ROH
| |
| ** This dude doesn't seem to trust the Empress
| |
| * We walk into the throne room
| |
| * We accept her quest and she asks us what we want from her?
| |
| ** KNowledge of The Order of the Dragon -- one person
| |
| ** Information about the origins of magic
| |
| ** A boon for our future travels
| |
| * She wants to know what is north where the Order Of the Dragon is
| |
| ** And what does she expect to do with the knowledge?
| |
| ** She expects we will know what to do when we find it
| |
| * She believes Theo and Ulertu will find what they're after in the north
| |
| ** "Randir, attend to these places. You seek guidance. Seek out the power of this world. Seek out the heart of the forest."
| |
| * "Go with my blessing." she says
| |
| * Ok. SO we gotta go north.
| |
| * Craghelm tells us come see him if/when we need transport
| |
| * We don't have a timeframe here...
| |
| * Before we leave the city, Randir wants to meet with Torbin.
| |
| * So Randir goes to the Lockwood estate
| |
| * He meets a halfling man, Osmo Lockwood
| |
| ** This dude goes and talks to Torbin
| |
| ** Osmo's Grand dad was "brought back" apparently -- lots of money
| |
| ** When he came back he wasn't the same person
| |
| ** If this money can't do what we need, he's not sure what to to make of Theo
| |
| * Osmo asks Randir about the greatest magic he's ever witnessed
| |
| ** Randir tells a tale about a nomadic tribe who pulled all of the light out of the forest for some ritual
| |
| ** This chilled him to the bone. But it showed him there was something larger than him, his family, and the forest.
| |
| * Osmo tells Randir about how the gods used to be more persuasive
| |
| ** The kind of magic used on Theo hasn't been seen in centuries
| |
| ** You can heal a wound, but you can't heal a soul
| |
| * "If you friend is truly that special, well... we should hook ourselves to that wagon."
| |
| * Dude hired an Order of the Truth guy Status Stormwall
| |
| * Randir leaves, spreading flowers from his staff as he leaves
| |
| * We need to:
| |
| ** Shop
| |
| *** GET A MAP
| |
| ** Find transport
| |
| ** Speak to Torbin
| |
|
| |
| === 11/28/2020 ===
| |
| * From last session: Torbin said, "If people could be brought back, people would hear about it. This kind of thing only happens in stories."
| |
| * We make our way to the plaza which is PACKED--we get there a little late.
| |
| * Ulertu and Theo see the Empress' guards around her far up by the foot of the steps of the risen platform far ahead
| |
| * We see Pallas, the quartermaster from the notherner's ship
| |
| * This dude seems to be confused as to why these boxes were being sent to Blackbriar
| |
| * We explain the situation and he says, "What do we do?"
| |
| * We need to find the northmen... Randir ponders
| |
| * We only have minutes until the speech
| |
| * Pallas recalls that the northmen went off to the sides of the square to get a better view closer to the fountain(?)
| |
| * Just then Ultertu sees a blue scarf in the crowd... Randir pushes him towards the crowd, "Go find it, we will catch up"
| |
| * We follow Ulertu, getting within 50-60ft of the stairs of the stage
| |
| * He loses the blue scarf he was following...
| |
| * He notices some of the guards are missing on the opposite side of the plaza on the roof.
| |
| * Ulertu notices more people on the steps, specifically: Tane Faradon (the ranger from the White Orchard)
| |
| * The horns come up, and the building in the center of the plaza opens it's 30ft tall doors.
| |
| * The empress is among us.
| |
| * The crowd gasps, then applauses massively
| |
| * She's wreathed in golden light
| |
| * She speaks:
| |
| ** She apologizes for being gone for so long
| |
| ** She wants to empower the people for the "Storms to come"
| |
| *** SHE LOCKS EYES WITH RANDIR
| |
| ** She speaks about the battles beyond Caer Sen. (gesturing to Tane and his group)
| |
| ** Randir notices a shared look between the Senator and the Empress
| |
| ** She mentions people want her to step down
| |
| ** "I am the remainder of the gift from the Gods"
| |
| *** Some voices shout dissent
| |
| **** "YOU'RE A MURDERER!"
| |
| **** "MY SENATOR WILL TAKE CARE OF ME!"
| |
| *** People in the crowd begin to fight
| |
| ** The Empress pleads for unity
| |
| * Randir sees a man across the plaza on a roof, with a bow drawn
| |
| * INITIATIVE
| |
| * We get in some fights, the Empress gets stabbed pretty badly, these fuckin assassins have goddamn poison
| |
| * We get surrounded by the guards of the Empress
| |
| * "You're coming with us!"
| |
| * We're brought inside and the guards speak with us
| |
| * The big Paladin who was helping the Senator is named Daario (something)
| |
| ** Dude warns us that we should be careful
| |
| * We're allowed to be about a hundred feet away from here but when she speaks, it's as if she's right next to us
| |
| ** She thanks us
| |
| * We tell her we sort of knew this would happen...
| |
| * She asks us why we came to Caer Sen
| |
| * She asks if we believe in fate
| |
| * Randir and Ultertu believe in coincedence, Theo is unsure. His fate has been affected by higher powers in the past...
| |
| * She approaches us
| |
| * She is Empress Amalia Aramant
| |
| * "Surely you feel guided by the hand of another?"
| |
| ** Theo remarks on this
| |
| * The Empress wants to offer us a quest and Randir questions it
| |
| ** She peers into his mind and it is painful as he resists
| |
| ** She gazes into his mind and looks through the pages of his life
| |
| * She says, "I know who you are..."
| |
| * She explains that as she's gotten older, her wants and needs have changed. She no longer wants fame or fortune...
| |
| * "All I have left is love for my family, for the city that raised me."
| |
| * She says she has few friends and fewer allies
| |
| * Randir asks, "but why us?"
| |
| ** She commands no armies, people who follow her follow her for things she's done
| |
| ** We would be unattached, we would not be blinded
| |
| * Randir speaks for the group: "We would be up for any task."
| |
| * We represent much of what this kingdom has lost, or forgotten
| |
| * We talk of good and evil and power and...
| |
| * The Empress does not want to show her full power to the people, she does not want to rule by fear
| |
| * Randir asks what kind of power she could have if the three of them all can weild magic and can attain more
| |
| * She asks if we wish to see what her power is
| |
| * BOOM we're in a dark cave
| |
| ** we walk out of the cave over bodies
| |
| ** We come out to see the ruins of a huge battle
| |
| ** A single banner flies in the wind on a broken pike
| |
| ** There is a small crowd of people, a storm rages around
| |
| ** THe Empress emerges from the crowd, she is unhindered by the battle or the storm
| |
| ** We move closer to the group to hear a conversation
| |
| ** The Empress looks down on a man on his knees
| |
| ** She looks bored
| |
| ** This battle is against a lord who "broke the peace"
| |
| ** She waves her hand.... and this dude is unmade... turned to ash in front of the group
| |
| ** "This is what becomes of those who defy me; who threaten my peace."
| |
| ** She unmakes the rest of the man's guard
| |
| * The scene fades.... and we're back in the Senate Hall
| |
| * The Empress looks at us, shameful
| |
| * Randir is kind of fucked up after this. He understands why she wouldn't want to use this power that way.
| |
| ** He can't fathom someone having that much power
| |
| ** He's disgusted by the inequality and unfairness and overt use of this power
| |
| * She wants us to investigate and intervene where she cannot
| |
| ** She wants us to save the land
| |
| * She's going to give us a day to decide if we want to help
| |
| * Randir has a very bad hunch about The Empress
| |
| ** How can you deal with a "devil" like this and not see the other shoe fall? And when it does, how does it play out for us.
| |
| * We kind of want to go speak to Zelias?
| |
| * Visit the Order of Truth
| |
| * And try to fix our relationship with Torbin.
| |
| ** Def want to know why he was so damn scared of The Gods / Resurrection.
| |
| * So we wrap on us getting Lunch and prepping to go se Zelias
| |
|
| |
| === 11/8/2020 ===
| |
| * We decide to accomplish three things before breakfast by splitting the party:
| |
| ** Theo is investigating the houses
| |
| ** Randir is investigating the docks
| |
| ** Ulertu is visiting Zelias
| |
| * Randir sneaks down into this ship as a rat where Theo was the day before
| |
| * On the way down, he avoids a crewmate going upstairs
| |
| * He heads down one more set of stairs
| |
| * He discovers some boxes covered in cloth, they smell metally, acrid
| |
| * He pops out of wild shape and checks the boxes (they have the sigil)
| |
| * He checks the ledger on the desk
| |
| ** Pallas is a new quartermaster as of 2 days ago, the previous one disappeared (According theo)
| |
| * Letter with a sigil of a tree (on the desk)
| |
| ** Well educated writing, "Instructions for delivery of lord Blackbriar's belongings"
| |
| ** Deliver these boxes to the tavern in the dock district with the blue awnings - they will be collected and distributed to the correct locations
| |
| *** Do not open or tamper with
| |
| ** In merchant guild markings with contents:
| |
| *** 10 crates filled with clothing and personal sundries, books, items from his personal collection, his personal collection of cloaks & capes (which he is known for)
| |
| * only 3 boxes under the cloth
| |
| * He Notices that the tarp was here to cover the boxes and is much larger than the boxes that remain
| |
| ** Also, many holes around the cloth to pin them so they didn't get wet.
| |
| * He decides to open the boxes
| |
| ** One box has pottery - clay and steel pottery lined with hay
| |
| *** In one of the vases jingles
| |
| *** All of the vases are filled with small intricate knives
| |
| **** All of the knives are demascus steel
| |
| ** A collection of smaller boxes, intricately carved, silver fillagry
| |
| *** The small boxes are super light, they hold a very flexible wood. As he touches it, it feels alive
| |
| **** Randir hasn't encountered this before
| |
| **** Randir takes a piece.
| |
| ** The lady blackbriar's makeup collection and cloaks
| |
| *** one cloak looks REAL nice, maybe elven made (colorful patchwork leaves)
| |
| *** Another is black satin
| |
| *** The acrid smell is coming from the makeup containers, he opens one up and inside there isn't a liquid but like a very viscous liquid.
| |
| *** Randir is certain this is poisonous and wouldn't be something to ingest. It's definitely put on a weapon.
| |
| * Randir takes one knife, one piece of wood, and one portion of poison
| |
| * He pops back into rat form and gets away
| |
| * Then heads off to breakfast to meet Randir, Ulertu, and Theo with Torbin Lockwood
| |
| * He's curious about how we like the city, Randir says you can get arrested and released for defending yourself in this city with no problem
| |
| * He asks us about the Empress
| |
| * Her dad was proven that he was not a god
| |
| * Torbin believes the Empress must be powerful if she's lived for so long
| |
| * He doesn't believe Theo has spoken to his god before... but we tell him it's true.
| |
| * Theo fuckin died. But he's here.
| |
| * He believes us, but he regards us VERY differently after.
| |
| ** Wariness and fear.
| |
| * He walks off and Randir follows.
| |
| * He doesn't believe that Theo should be alive.
| |
| * He leaves. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK
| |
| * Randir explains what he found on the ship and pulls the three items he took from the ship
| |
| ** They gang checks the stuff out
| |
| ** The knife is a +1 dagger
| |
| ** The wood has some runes that do transmutation magic to turn it into a bow
| |
| ** The Poison is from a creature among the coast (WYRMS) that exerts a venom. They're big ol monsters. Descended from Dragons.
| |
| *** Pirates would use this venom when fighting
| |
| **** Many have taken the Dragon/Wyvern as their sigil (ORDER OF THE DRAGON)
| |
| *** The container holds 2 applications on a blade
| |
| * We surmise that these boxes were moving at the tavern we were at last night
| |
| ** How many people are armed now?
| |
| ** Should we try to kidnap the empress?
| |
| * We finish breakfast and make our way to the plaza.
| |
| * We need to do something.... but what?
| |
| * END OF SESSION
| |
|
| |
| === 10/11/2020 ===
| |
| * Randir is taken away by guards
| |
| * Theo and Ulertu see as he is taken away and Theo questions Elena
| |
| * Elena: "You should have never gotten involved."
| |
| * Elena reveals she's been killing folks based on a list.
| |
| ** Arya style
| |
| * For the last year, she's been finding them one by one
| |
| * She's avenging her Father (and more?)
| |
| * Elena offers to break randir out of jail, but it's a bad idea. "He'll be fine."
| |
| * She offers to take Ulertu and Theo to investigate where the Empress may be assassinated tomorrow
| |
| * We soar north...
| |
| * A wagon carries Randir in the back
| |
| * 3 guards take Randir into this prison
| |
| * Randir is thrown into his cell, the guards yell, "Just admit it, and we'll hang ya. easy as that."
| |
| * Randir is interrogated "Commander Foss"
| |
| * He asks why we're in Caer Sen - randir gives a half truth.
| |
| ** "We're Root-heads" (aka followers of The Cinder Root Trio)
| |
| * The interrogation goes... oddly. Randir pushes back against some of the magic this Inquisitor uses on him
| |
| ** The Inquisitor is reading through his memories, but Randir eventually resists
| |
| ** "You are so untrained..." the Foss says
| |
| * Randir doesn't given anyone up...
| |
| ** "I've said what you wished me to say. That is all." -Randir
| |
| * The Inquisitor tries one more push of magic. It doesn't work.
| |
| * Randir is let go..........
| |
| * He goes invisible as he walks down the long road back to town.
| |
| * Meanwhile in town, Theo and Ulertu are looking into the square where the Empress is appearing
| |
| * They surmise that it's going to be pretty damn hard to pull this off
| |
| ** Elena explains how she thinks the presentation is going to go.
| |
| ** Lots of people, so it would be easier to blow the whole place up rather than kill one person
| |
| ** Someone would need to get EXTREMELY close to the Empress to assassinate her...
| |
| * Randir eventually comes into town and comes across the gang
| |
| * Elena recommends that maybe we need to reach out for help
| |
| ** We're supposed to meet A lockwood dude tomorrow for breakfast
| |
| ** Elena says that's too late
| |
| * Is there someone else we can speak to?
| |
| ** Northerners?
| |
| ** Can we figure out who is on the Empress' guard? (Zelias said they might be part of this attempt)
| |
| * We ask around about Northerners. Some folks mention seeing them in the Dock District.
| |
| * Randir and Elena walk hand in hand and Elena explains her whole spiel to him via Message spell
| |
| ** She's trying to protect the Crimson Grove
| |
| ** Randir knows this is the center of the Cinder Root
| |
| ** This is the heart of that forest (where the group originally came from)
| |
| ** New ~200-300 years.
| |
| ** THey would tell him stories of this place,
| |
| ** A god was wounded in this place and brought life to where there was none
| |
| ** ^^ This is a rumor
| |
| ** IT's called the Cinder root because it burned but survived.
| |
| * She was told that if she completes this list, then the forest will survive
| |
| * "Who were you targeting tonight?"
| |
| * "His name is not important. But he was the only person on the list" She just happened to be seen.
| |
| * "HE is integral to ''something''."
| |
| * Randir tells her she needs to be safe and aware of her surroundings. The Inquisitor is likely watching their every move.
| |
| * We get to the dock ward, and we see this Northerner Ship
| |
| * Theo recognizes it
| |
| * But fuckin Bell and Dove are there. Shiiiiiit.
| |
| * The sailors don't seem to mind them tossing rocks.
| |
| * Dove and Elena leave with some instruments
| |
| * Bell asks about what happened and he's PRETTY drunk
| |
| * Doesn't care for Northerners it seems
| |
| * Theo decides to go up on the ship
| |
| ** We decide a signal if things go awry: Yell "AHOY MATEY!"
| |
| * Randir hangs next to Bell, Ulertu nearby -- but Ulertu sends ChukChuk up to the ship as well
| |
| * Theo goes up the gangplank and sees 30-40 sailors playing cards, etc.
| |
| * Theo talks to the 1st mate. He doesn't seem to believe the empress has powers
| |
| * A kid from Theo's past, it turns out, works on the ship
| |
| * Theo explains to this guy what we're doing... but he says that the ship has some unknown crates
| |
| * People have been telling Theo's buddy not to open these crates
| |
| * The crates are marked with a symbol of a diving bird on a blue background
| |
| ** THIS IS THE SYMBOL OF HOUSE GREY (they run the shipping guild)
| |
| * It's a LITTLE suspicious that this family is shipping things undocumented
| |
| * So what do we do next?
| |
| * Wake up early, scope out the docks, meet the guy for breakfast...
| |
| * QUICK RECAP:
| |
| ** We were told they might be DRESSED Northerners, but Northerners are common in the city
| |
| ** They either need to do this assassination very very close or very very big -- either way, very well equipped
| |
| *** What that means, we don't knows
| |
| ** We've uncovered several shady dealings -- they MIGHT posess things in relation to an assassination attempt
| |
| ** We know that the Noble Families involved may be:
| |
| *** Lockwood (we know Torbin Lockwood)
| |
| *** THe Grey Family (see also: untracked boxes)
| |
| *** Blackbriars are also a big family
| |
| ** The Senate has the most power in the city...?
| |
| ** Zelias The Keeper was vague about what he saw because the future is unwritten
| |
| *** Maybe we should check in with him again?
| |
| * Next time:
| |
| ** Breakfast With Torbin
| |
| ** Investigate the houses more
| |
| ** Check out the docks
| |
| ** Check in with Zelias
| |
|
| |
| === 10/3/2020 ===
| |
| * So we shop around a bit so Theo can get some more traditional weapons: Scimitars
| |
| * Before we go see the Cinder Root Trio, we decide to visit the Order of Truth at their big ol Lighthouse
| |
| * As we move towards their lighthouse, the buildings become sparse, then gone as we get further from the city.
| |
| * Out on a cliff, an ivory sandstone stands tall on the cliff.
| |
| * The stone appears immaculate despite being right on the seaside
| |
| * We enter and after asking about questions, we are taken to the office of a Gnome named Zavig Null.
| |
| * Zavig knows of Zelias, he thinks he's pretty cool.
| |
| * The Order here is established to understand WHY people are "here" (this city? this world?)
| |
| ** There is much knowledge beyond the walls of The Order or The Library
| |
| ** "Stories can be more valuable to establish truth than facts"
| |
| ** They're trying to study the history of Caer Sen? The empress and her family?????
| |
| * Some of Ulertu's findings align with the founding of Caer Sen according to Zavig (and he gives Ulertu a journal)
| |
| * Does the royal family actually posess super human abilities?
| |
| ** Amon Sur apparently had massive strength and charisma, he gathered some of the first explorers of the frontier
| |
| ** Some believe he was a god, but others see that they are simply more adept spellcasters
| |
| * Ulertu asks about the Order of the Dragin and Zavig gets a little clammed up, so we push him a little on it. Politely.
| |
| * He talks to us of "people being moved by something--a guild, a queen, etc."
| |
| ** "I believe that the name is a smokescreen for a power that has slept for a long time."
| |
| ** So it's a goddamn conspiracy.
| |
| * We end up making our way into the dock district to go see the Cinder Root Trio
| |
| ** We approach the tavern and we see people gathering in and outside
| |
| ** Bell, Dove, and Elena are chilling outside inconspicuously
| |
| ** We (well, Randir) smoke some sugary weed with these guys
| |
| *** It looks like a sausage and they call it the "elven word for Sausage" as a slang term
| |
| * We mingle at the concert a bit.
| |
| ** Randir hypes the band
| |
| ** Theo takes notice of the muscle at the concert
| |
| *** He sees some "knights" of the city
| |
| *** Theo notices a quiet argument among some of the staff at the concert
| |
| * Randir goes to look into it, and doesn't see much but burly men moving large boxes
| |
| * Theo sees a guy watching the crowd, he looks like a northerner
| |
| ** He walks over, tries to convince him he's a northerner too.... but he's suddenly charmed by the man and compelled to go sit down.
| |
| * Randir suggests we talk to this guy outside after the show! HOW DARE HE
| |
| * Suddenly, Bell approaches... he can't find Elena.
| |
| * We agree to help find her, Randir starts pushing through the crowd, Ulertu follows, it's... tough
| |
| * Theo tries asking a town guard to help... he doesn't seem very interested
| |
| * We see some people come up out of this downstairs area, Randir asks what's happening
| |
| ** The host ain't really telling the truth about it, Randir pushes past him and heads downstairs
| |
| * We head down into the taproom
| |
| * There's a small private room that has emptied out. The stairs turn again and we arrive at a long room stacked full of beer, liquor, wine, preserved food, etc.
| |
| ** In this room, there's a stone floor and it ends in a HUGE door that runs floor to ceiling. This would lead to the docks.
| |
| ** Against the door is Elena, standing over the body of a man collapsed on the ground. EIGHT LARGE THUGS LINE THE HALLWAY.
| |
| * The leader fucker is Avudan Mar, he is with the shipping guild - Owned by the Grey family
| |
| ** His man was killed in process of delivery
| |
| * We DUN GET IN A FIGHT
| |
| * The big man gets away, Elena kills TWO DUDES
| |
| * Randir goes down, but Elena revives him with a healing word using the ELVEN nickname she gave him
| |
| ** WHAT WAS THE NICKNAME???
| |
| * The thugs stick around to fight us
| |
| * There is a STARK reminder that MURDER IS ILLEGAL HERE. Uh oh.
| |
| * Randir frostbite's a guy next to Elena yelling some OTHER elven phrase to her
| |
| ** THERE IS SOMETHING HERE BETWEEN THEM - WHAT DID RANDIR SAY
| |
| * The fight ends and Randir convinces Ulertu and Theo to run and let him take the blame.
| |
| * It is a very dramatic cliffhanger.
| |
|
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| * '''Next time''':
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| ** What elven nickname did Elena give Randir?
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| ** What secret phrase (or phrases) do Randir and Elena have between them?
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| *** Does Randir love Elena????? Or something else???
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|
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| === 9/12/2020 ===
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| * We wake in Caer Sen at the Ivory Inn
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| * We have some breakfast
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| * Randir watches the street as we eat outside
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| ** He's fascinated by the frenzy of activity as the city wakes up
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| * Theo senses anticipation of something in the area...
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| * A town crier comes by, he's a little nervous about something he's announcing
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| ** "The empress will be making an appearance tomorrow."
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| * People are buggin' out
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| * He doesn't have a lot of answers beyond the announcement
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| * A Goliath near us chimes up that it's odd - she doesn't speak when she appears.
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| * Her last appearance resulted in an attempted assassination
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| * There's a group of people who believe her claim to godhood is a false one and believe that she should die.
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| * This guy is Torbin Lockwood
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| ** Oh yeah, this dude is from a the very notable family in the city we heard about
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| * We ask a bit more about the Empress - why would she make an appearance now?
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| * Folks are worried about war breaking out nearby, there are no walls so any action could just roll into the city
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| * We decide to meet this Torbin fella tomorrow before the ceremony
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| * He gives us directions to the main library in the city
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| * Buncha nerds here, reading books
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| * The entrance reminds us of the Order of Truth location we came upon in the Ember Valley
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| * Going into the library, all the noise of the city fades away
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| * Some sort of magical sound dampening
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| * Theo looks into old houses in Caer Sen and finds some info, but also finds a book about dragons
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| ** He finds some info about assassinations
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| ** Some info about dragons living along side of (or ruling?) the Giants
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| *** Giants and Dragons seemed to have died off at the same time?
| |
| * Randir is just looking around, meandering as he waits for his friends to find their info
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| * He finds a set of wooden stairs, wrapped by a tree that goes upward
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| * He gets to the top and can see all around the city
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| * There is flower box on the windowsil
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| ** A hummingbird feeds from the flowers
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| ** After eating, the bird lands on his finger.... and winks. It leaps off his finger, ponders him, the zips away
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| * UM
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| * Randir dramatically, frantically runs down the stairs. Either he just met a smart bird or a FUCKIN DRUID JUST SAID HI TO HIM IN THIS BIG CITY
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| * He needs to find his friends, ASAP
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| * '''Remember''': Randir carries the heart of the forest with him now. So. This is ''probably'' relevant here.
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| * Ultertu finds a shitload of books about history
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| * We leave the library once Randir finds Theo and Ulertu again - he's looking for this hummingbird
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| ** It was an orange hummingbird with a turquoise band on his wing
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| * No luck on the bird (didn't expect there to be)
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| * But we're looking for this "Oldest House" in Caer Sen...
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| * We do some walking around and get to a beautiful view (like Ibiza, Spain) where many older family homes exist
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| * We stop for some pizza at a cafe that looks down the hill
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| * Randir catches people's eyes as we eat, he stands out
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| * One house in particular has a sigil of a silver bird on a blue and white field
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| ** This belongs to the "Grey" Family
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| * Someone tells us to go speak with the Order of Truth at their location in the south side of the city on the first floor of a Lighthouse
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| * Theo asks about the Blackbriar and Lockwood families estates
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| ** Blackbriar sigil: Thorns
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| ** Lockwood sigil: A large tree
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| * We wander this old neighborhood and come across the Blackbriar estate
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| ** 3 story manor, super tall roof, overlooks the hill and the ocean/coast
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| * The Lockwood manor is very sporadic - lots of new additions and modifications
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| * Ulertu tries to open the box he needs to deliver but he becomes sucked into the spell of it before he drops it... def not mean to open it
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| * We go to deliver it to the Blackbriar house... but they're not the "oldest" house in the city....
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| ** So it's probably a physical building
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| * We leave, and Randir sees the orange hummingbird
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| * He brings to chase it, not doing too well - Randir crashes into some students
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| * The trio runs to follow this hummingbird, going deeper into the heart of the city
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| * The buildings begin to look older and older
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| ** Some are run down, some are huts... we enter a slum?
| |
| * We turn a corner onto a plaza and Randir loses sight of the bird
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| * Theo sees the bird flash into the hole of a doorway into a small building squashed between two homes
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| * This little "building" is more of a wall for an alley with a simple roof
| |
| * The door is a mosaic of color recessed into the "wall"
| |
| ** The hole above the door is like an old air circulation system
| |
| * We wait for a moment and Randir looks around. There's a lot of apartments that look into this plaza. People mill about the plaza where a non-working fountain sits. The statue atop the fountain has been removed
| |
| * Randir yells at the door, "I don't know why you revealed yourself to me hummingbird, but I believe it was for a reason! Please explain why you led me and my friends here today!"
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| * And the door clicks unlocked.
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| * Inside, a 100x100 room reveals a small desk in the middle of the room beneath a large chandelier.
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| * A man sits at the desk, dark skin, large poofy hair, a small white goatee.
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| * We walk towards the man, "It seems you were destined to be here today."
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| * A hummingbird flies by, lighting the desk
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| * The man is blind
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| * He basically reveals that ''this'' is the oldest house in Caer Cen
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| * He takes the box from Ulertu
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| * His name is Zelias and he is the keeper of the Oldest House
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| * His friend Persimmon (the bird) has told him about us
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| * "She's not really a bird, she's happy you called her a bird..."
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| ** UH WHAT
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| * Ulertu, it seems, has uncovered something Zelias thought had been lost??????
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| ** Original Magic????
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| * It Zelias has much more to show us
| |
| * We walk into a bright garden
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| * He wants us to help figure out "what will be"
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| * He wants us to be "agents of change" in the city
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| * He wants us to help "ease transition" in the city???
| |
| * Apparently there might be another assassination attempt. He wants us to prevent the assassination.
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| * "Who knows, we may meet the empress!"
| |
| * If we're going to get involved, we need to be inconspicuous
| |
| * He takes us through a door in the courtyard
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| * We walk out onto a porous metal flooring
| |
| * There is a pedastal, above it, an inverted pyramid
| |
| ** Oh shit. Another one?
| |
| * He interacts with the pedestal... it creates an object
| |
| * He pulls it from the table and tosses it to Theo - looks like armor
| |
| * Randir asks: "Well, where do we start trying to prervent this assassination?"
| |
| * He takes us for a walk out to a small fountain. We sit.
| |
| * Zelias believes there is some sort of greater power who is revealing themselves now who's goal is to kill the Empress and replace the center of power in the province
| |
| ** Even if she's a figurehead, her existence helps people...
| |
| * We should be looking for agents making the attempt, they're from the north -- styled in garb of the north (colorful clothing, sashes)
| |
| * He believes they'll do this loudly, the more people who see this happen the better
| |
| * The empress' guard weild scimitars and wear large pelts, they're called the "Furusia" - their weapons are usually poisonous or magic.
| |
| * The empress' guard have been told about this assassination attempt -- Zelias worries, they may also be part of the attempt.
| |
| * We move back to the entry room, it has transformed into a long hallway with a red carpet with multiple chandeliers.
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| * "I wish you good luck."
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| * "Come back and I'll speak to you about something... destiny."
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| * We exit to the plaza
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| * It's midafternoon when we leave The Oldest House
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| * '''NEXT TIME''':
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| ** We scope out the area where the Empress will speak tomorrow
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| ** Theo needs to find a sword
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| ** Ulertu wants to visit the Order of Truth
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| ** Cinder Root Trio is playing tonight, maybe we go see them to round out the evening?
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|
| |
| === 7/11/2020 ===
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| * We're having some breakfast with the Cinder Root Trio
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| * We're a week's travel away from Cairsen
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| * Bell asks us what we'd like to find out while we're traveling
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| ** Ulertu wants to find more libraries
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| ** Theo is looking for more info on the Order of the Dragon
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| ** Randir wants to........... do more weaving?
| |
| * Someone bursts in, "Have you seen Tane?"
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| * They need him to fight something
| |
| * (I missed a lot of the discussion because I was distracted by something at home)
| |
| * Tane steps out to these mercs who showed up and straight up murders a dude
| |
| * So we get into a ding dang fight
| |
| * They try to retreat, but we capture their "knight" captain (Jerrick)
| |
| * Tane tells us to get along before it becomes a problem for us
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| * We wake the captain, he was looking for the man Theo threatened who killed himself
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| * The captain doesn't know anything about the Order of the Dragon
| |
| * He thinks Theo is lying about his man being involved in the OotD
| |
| * We get in the wagon and head out with the Cinder Root Trio
| |
| * We travel for a week, with a few stops
| |
| * We travel into the Oncala Province
| |
| * On the travel, Randir works with Elena to make some new armor - WEAVING SKILLS
| |
| * After 10 days, Randir has "Woven Armor" aka "Hide Armor"
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| ** Randir knows he could make this better, with more time and better materials
| |
| * We eventually get to the city
| |
| * At some point in the past Arumon Sur sat on the throne in Cairsen.
| |
| * Arumon Sur believed himself a god
| |
| * Arumon Sur died ~300 years ago, his daughter sits the throne now
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| * Only some people believe she is a god
| |
| * Bell tells us about the Lockwood family, very notable family in the city
| |
| ** Lumberers, carpenters, and paper makers
| |
| ** They tend to stand out
| |
| ** Bell says they're good folk
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| ** They're a family of Halflings / Goliaths, split in height ha. ha. ha.
| |
| * Theo asks about the oldest house
| |
| * We get to Cairsen, Randir is awestruck by the size and lights
| |
| * SO much city. SO MUCH everything
| |
| * Everything looks like it's made to last longer, costs more
| |
| * Everyone is finely dressed, carts are more intricately designed
| |
| * Strange pets, larger beasts of burden
| |
| * We head up a hill to a small place to stay
| |
| * We come to a sign that says, "The Ivory Inn"
| |
| * We come into a big square / courtyard
| |
| * Bell gets us a room, and he pays for it
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| * We get an iron key each
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| * We part ways with the Cinder Root Trio, but they give us a list of where they're playing over the next few days
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|
| |
| === 6/13/2020 ===
| |
| * When Randir left Pella's Wish, he went to find Fate Tinderpool.
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| * She tells him about many Druid Groves around the world.
| |
| * Because he's not bound to a specific grove, he must carry the heart of the forest now
| |
| * Fate passes, but she will live on in her forest
| |
| * She leaves him with a blessing. Something that is drawn to the Amber Blade
| |
| ** Mechanically, it is now a +1 scimitar
| |
| * Randir '''wishes''' to create some new armor with his new weaving skills that he learned from the Wood Elves
| |
| * WE OPEN ON RANDIR TRAVELLING WITH THE CINDER ROOT TRIO
| |
| * Bell, Dove, and Elena.
| |
| * He's been travelling with this group for about a week
| |
| * Randir feels this compulsion to travel west and so he found this group
| |
| * They're from a forest far to the North. They're travelling back that way eventually.
| |
| * They're on Tour.
| |
| * Randir insinuates that Bell and Dove have some sort of romantic thing between them
| |
| * We pull into White Orchard, a small village.
| |
| * It's been six months and we're coming out of winter
| |
| * We decide to stay the night there
| |
| * Ulertu is meeting a member of the Order of Truth in White Orchard
| |
| * They discuss Ulertu's findings and this person (Cairn) has a task for Ulertu: deliver a box to the oldest house in Caersen
| |
| * Theo has found out about a group called The Order of the Dragon
| |
| * Theo finds someone he's been looking for: Theo has him injured by his sword
| |
| * Theo, "TELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW OF MY FATHER!"
| |
| * The man slits his throat.
| |
| * WE meet! We catch up! Randir is very excited!
| |
| * We talk with Elena and Bell, they know some stuff about the Order of the Dragon
| |
| * They're pretty much terrorists. They've infiltrated the north quite a bit.
| |
| * "When anyone could be a spy for the Order of the Dragon, who can you trust?"
| |
| * They give us some info about Caersen, the Empress there is more of a Figurehead. The senate is more powerful than she is.
| |
| ** Used be called "The Land of the Thousand Tribes" by the elves
| |
| * The emperor at the time of founding used to claim he was a god.
| |
| * "He killed too many people to be a unifier of people."
| |
| * The Order of the Dragon usually leaves a sigil behind
| |
| * Bell tells us about a small city called "Cape Verden" where many craftsmen live (or have retired)
| |
| * A half elf storms into the tavern, he argues with the barkeep silently
| |
| * After a while, the half elf sits down and eats begrudgeonly
| |
| * Theo goes to talk to the barkeep, Randir goes off to look for Elena who walked off a moment before
| |
| * Theo ends up talking to the heated half-elf
| |
| ** Named Tane Faradon
| |
| * He's a fuckin ranger. But he's not respected.
| |
| * Randir sees Elena, there's an awkward interaction and they come back in wet from the rain.
| |
| * The gang talks into the night as the band plays more music
| |
| * The music goes on and on turning into unplanned strumming and jamming
| |
| * The gang turns in in thr wee hours of the night
| |
| * The next day, the Cinder Root Trio orders breakfast for us
| |
| * We decide that we'll continue to travel with the trio! Woohoo!
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| == Archive == | | == Archive == |