Rash Tuesday September 1st, 2009 11:05:00 PM
After interviewing the second two clerics, Rash will teleport them all to the abbey and introduce them to the citizens there and the mailed fist guardsmen. She will leave Terrace with 500 gps to buy both food supplies and basic clothing and other sundries and to give them some gold to live off of for a few months. She will leave them some simple instructions in cleaning the place up and getting it organized.
"While I am willing to subsidize this place for a while, I want it to be self sufficient before too long. I want you to find out how much of the land around the abbey is our land. If we can use the land for farming or ranching, that would help. Get some ideas together and we can discuss them next time. For now Terrace is in charge but I expect all of you to work together. Remember the people of Threshold are you primary responsibility. Care for them, set up regular services and tend the ill."
Rash hosts a dinner for the officers of the mailed fist, the town council and the her new cleric friends. She will try to get a feel for what everyone is thinking on the future of Threshold and what the town's needs are for trade and what they have to sell themselves. She will inquire about any natural resources that town has besides farming which could help stimulate this place and how many if any settlers the town could support.
Xenia (AC29, HP92/92) d20+11=29 ; d20+2=7 ; d20+32=44 ; d20+32=45 ; Wednesday September 2nd, 2009 10:39:21 AM
It's nice chatting with Holly. After finishing at the Catacombs, the girl rogue hangs in the store, talking girl stuff, which turns into talking business stuff.
At first, Xenia inquires about the sources from which Holly gets her goods. With the lands all moved around, that could probs become a hardship. 'Specially if she gets a lot of stuff from, say Hook City and all. Talk leads to merchant transports, and sources of financing, and store upkeep and such. Then Xenia brings up her idea of trading in the Hook City memory stones, asking what the elf thinks.
The rogue takes a deep breath upon leaving Holly's store. Time to become one with the folks of this little place. She steps out into the street with her mind set to settle in and make friends of all the folks in the town. After the first few smiles, the first few Hi's and Hello's, it becomes easy. Xenia's gait relaxes, and she swings through the streets as though she's always lived here. (Diplomacy 29)
Strolling by the Inn, Xenia spots Angus and Jurgen with some weerdo looking cat guy. The sensitive ears of the rogue cannot help but pick up the conversation. "Hey!" she interjects, "I'll pay a hundred gold for that map!" she says. (Appraise 7)
The rest of that day is spent crafting a bow. There's a nice spot just outside of town at the edge of Peerimus' woods. The rogue lays out her tools, puts on her magic headband, and finishes the basic bow in less than a day. (Craft 44: 12*44=528 vs 300 DC12) By the end of the week, she's come near half the way to making a Masterwork of the bow. (Craft 45: 30x45=1350 vs 3000 DC30)
Note to DM: Looks as though the Catacombs is going to be insanely slow again. I've had a post in since Sunday. No service. Rich/Firn'gaer has been in since Saturday. Same.
Jurgen Wednesday September 2nd, 2009 5:39:25 PM
Jurgen listens as Angus flatly denies the 'Taur and bites his tongue. The gold was hardly a significant amount. Especially considering the map was of the Southern Continent. In all his years in the area, he had seen enough accurate maps to count on one hand. When Xenia pipes up, Jurgen nods his head at her in approval. "We'll split the cost. I understand the difficulties in even penning this continent at all, let alone accurately. In fact, I'd pay well over that were you to map the entire coastline of the South..." If the liontaur seems willing, Jurgen will start a conversation about exact prices and the logistics of the deal.
When that is over, Jurgen will turn to Angus. "The South has been unmappable for a long time friend. I've seen cartographers lose their minds at the inconsistancies of this land. Sometimes you'll sit down to draw the Gateway Downs and find that you've included portions of Ice Vein. The most stubborn dwarf I've ever met was a mapmaker. For an entire year he tried to make a simple city map. And every time he came up with a completely alien location. He probably had completed maps for every part of the Continent except his city... Maps are a rare commodity."
Actons in the Fourth Week (DMSteveK) Wednesday September 2nd, 2009 6:57:29 PM Threshold
Trace and Firn'gaer return to Threshold and notice that Durgan and Kazak are still there. the four gather themselves that night and Teleport over to Heranmar pretty easily to meet the others.
Rash gives her instructions and they are not odious to Terrace, Bordy, and Flavius. They are convinced a little elbow grease and hard work will turn the Temple to being self sufficient in no time! Rash herself checks things to make sure everything is well (it is), and Teleports herself to Heranmar.
Heranmar
Jurgen, Angus and Xenia have a conversation with the Mate of the tauric ship and the map. Despite Angus' threatening words, the others eagerly fork over 100 in gold and the Mate obligingly hands them a copied map. It is only the coastline of Gateway Downs, but is invaluable to the Children of Chaos even so, for there, on the EAST coast of Heranmar is.... Hook City!!!
Durgan Stonewall (AC 43; HP 140/230) Wednesday September 2nd, 2009 9:30:36 PM
Durgan looks at the map and shrugs his shoulders. "Well it hadda be somewhere didn't it? Hmmm. This calls for a toast! I'll get some ale."
OOC- nice map. Is the Sargrass on the other side of the mountains then?
DMSteveK: wouldn't you like to know....
Peerimus AC 24 HP 131/131 and Yorrick AC 37 HP 160/160 d20=2 ; Wednesday September 2nd, 2009 11:02:30 PM
Peerimus continues his search for a lone hawk or falcon in the wood and once located will speak with it about being awakened. If agreeable the druid performs the spell. [Yay didn't roll a 1 so I made it]
Most of the druids' time is with Yorrick, his woods and thoughts of the future. The Crones had placed quite a warning at thier feet and he was not particularly keen about it. The Marut had already all but targetted them and whatever sent it in the first place would not be far behind. They were the champions of individual will, change and choice. While the northern god Ga'al was easy to stand against in principle, others might not wear so fierce a face. It left him with a lot to dwell on. Being alone within the arms of Mother and Father and the the open spaces helped.
Rash Wednesday September 2nd, 2009 11:53:26 PM
Rash is pleased with her progress and leaves the trio to get started. She teleports back to Heranmar and checks in with any of the Children she can find. She sees the map and makes a copy of it to give to her husband so he can find his way around. She spends her last week with her family recharging her reserves knowing some kind of test was coming there way.
Xenia (AC29, HP92/92) d20+32=50 ; Thursday September 3rd, 2009 10:46:46 AM
The dark rogue pours over her new map. "Hook City!" She thrusts a gloved finger at the yellow dot with a look of triumph on her face. "And not too far away either. Looks to be ... somewhere 'round a hundred miles."
Over the next week, Xenia continues to work on the new bow. In addition to shaping a slight recurve to the limbs, and shaping the grip on the riser to a perfect fit in her hand, the dark girl also works at a carving a shallow base relief that runs across the front of the limbs facing outward toward the enemy. The relief depicts an open rolling landscape dotted with trees. Across the landscape a ranger roams with his dog. (Craft 50: 30x50=1500 total 2850/3000 DC30)
From the activity, it looks like most of the Chaos Guys are converging back on Heranmar. Xenia mulls the options. Either convince one of the Chaos Guys to 'port her into the city, or start discussing plans with Holly to arrange a caravan.
Trace (AC34, HP104/104) - Sub/Al Thursday September 3rd, 2009 11:04:47 AM
Trace eyes the map purchased by Jurgen and Xenia. His eyes do not fail to notice that the entirety of the Gray Downs is cut off from the rest of the continent by the Gray Divide, turning the Downs, in a way, into a great peninsula. The best way, then, through to the rest of the continent, would seem to be by boat.
The ranger seeks out the Liontaur mate of the ship mentioned by Angus and Jurgen, the one who had sold them the map in the first place. It would be a fitting way to leave Heranmar, the same way in which he had arrives so many years ago when this adventure had begun.
Actons in the Fourth Week (DMSteveK) Thursday September 3rd, 2009 2:32:19 PM
After much searching, Peerimus finally finds a gateway hawk who is willing to be Awakened. It has taken some time, for most of the birds consider flying free and eating occasionally the best anyone could ever want; they didn't want anything more. But this red-feathered hawk has a gleam in his eye like he is still searching for something more. Yes, he could be an excellent candidate.
Xenia goes about making a bow and is just about complete as all the other CoC arrive and contemplate thier next moves with the map and what the Crones have said.
A couple quick teleportations confirm that Hook City is exactly where it is. A further experiment by the mages determine that once they have gone into Hook City, they can now teleport back and forth without difficulty.
Xenia finds out pretty quick that the Hook City memory stones are a closely guarded secret. Further, they don't seem to work if they are too far away from Hook City. One old rogue confides in her that his stone stored information right enough, but didn't work again until they were actually within the walls of the magic city itself.
The liontaur crew didn't sail much past Hook City on the east coast or past the Three Forks Inn on the west coast. And they don't intend to either. "We are prepped and ready to sail back to the Tauric Isles on the morrow's tide", the CoC is told. "Our hold is full and we have two good ports to sail to; Hook City and here in Heranmar. We're certain that this will be a regular trade route with us and our clan."
..............
The Children of Chaos are all gathered in the INN at Heranmar. There are considerations before you. - It has been exactly 29 days since the Crones provided thier Dream and thier warning. - The CoC has what looks to be a fairly accurate map of the Gateway Downs. - The CoC again has access to Hook City. - Could there be thoughts, words, preparations to make for the unknown?
Trace (AC34, HP104/104) - Sub/Al Friday September 4th, 2009 10:32:14 AM
Hook City would have little capacity for sea-going vessels. Heranmar, though it maintains a deep water port, has little more than a small fishing fleet. That may have to change.
Trace seeks Peerimus to discuss the harvesting of wood with the aim of developing a ship building trade in the small town. Such a thing may lead to growth and better things for Heranmar. Change, at the very least. Better for some, may be worse for others.
Xenia (AC29, HP92/92) d20+32=49 ; Friday September 4th, 2009 10:54:44 AM
"Hey, did the Crone Girls say sump'in 'bout not seeing no challenges coming for about a moon?" Over the break of fast, the dark rogue comments to the others between bites of toast and jam. "'Zat mean they see a challenge coming after the moon? Or d'zat mean they don't see no further than a moon's time forward?"
She takes a sip from her mug of kaffe.
"Dunno which it is. But, unless you weren't watching, coming pretty close to a moon's time. Hope that doesn't mean your moving the lands around again. I mean, we just found Hook City and that was trouble enough."
While sitting out in her shady crafting spot at the edge of Peerimus' woods, Xenia contemplates how to get around the Hook City restrictions on their memory stones. What would make them only work within the city? Gotta be something located within the city itself. Once you find out what that is, you can take it with you. Right? But ... how to go about finding just what that is? This might take some wizardy help.
Then ... how to go about getting some of it - a problem entirely in and of itself.
By the end of the day, the bow is almost completely near to finished. All it takes is a little more carving on the relief. Just a little carving on the dog's face. Something to give him a smile. Xenia stretches in a yawn. Tomorrow, she would finish it tomorrow. Better that way.
Shift to Daily Crafting Mode Beginning of Day 2850 out of 3000: Diff = 150 Daily crafting DC 1500 (150*10) Craft Check = 30x49 = 1470 ; 1500 - 1470 = 30 Converting back to Weekly numbers: 30/10 = 3 Progress: 2997/3000
Actons in the Fourth Week (DMSteveK) Friday September 4th, 2009 6:42:36 PM
With two posts, I will not post until Tuesday. Happy Labor Day!
Xenia (AC29, HP92/92) Friday September 4th, 2009 6:45:13 PM
Two posts ... both by the same person.
Durgan Stonewall (AC 43; HP 140/230) Friday September 4th, 2009 10:15:55 PM
OOC - have a good holiday all!
Peerimus AC 24 HP 131/131 and Yorrick AC 37 HP 160/160 Sunday September 6th, 2009 10:12:40 AM
Peerimus watches the rogue sitting and working on her bow from a high branch in the form of a red tailed hawk. She was a perplexing and complex person, far outside of his experience. When it was boiled away, she was a good person and was certainly willing to step up against any challenge where she percieved injustice. It was her vengeful streak, this near single minded goal to exact lethal retalliation against what seemed to be an entire population. Another word fit her goal it would seem and it disturbed him; genocide. Peerimus cocks his head around and gives her one more look and then drops from the tree to open his wings and spin back into the deeper wood. Back to the wood and Yorrick and another day of mastering the Shapechange.
Breakfast; Peerimus takes a small breath, it was time to address something that he hioped would not go the wrong way. "Xenia, I would like to ask a favor of you. Would please add a bit of reverence or respect to your speech when you speak of the Crones of the Gateway Downs. They are not simply a small group of 5 odd old women, but are Immortal Powers of the Southern Continent and are every bit as important as the northern gods such as Domi, Alemi and Gargul."
"You are correct though the moon has nearly come full circle. We can expect something to reveal itself soon. I would also remind everyone that the warning of what lies before us will not be in the form of a malevolent evil. I suspect the Marut that was heading into Dre Moria, or rather what sent the Marut,might be taking aim in our direction. Control, Order, Conformity those who wish to organize the World, The Southern Continent or even just the Gateway Downs, would see us as the foremost champions that stand in thier way. We were the architects of the greatest event of our time that directly reflects the position of Change, Choice and Anarchy."
Rash Sunday September 6th, 2009 10:08:03 PM
Rash pops a piece of sausage into her mouth and then says, "I am confident that we can meet any trouble that comes our way physically. I am more worried about the warning that the crones gave us. I have a feeling we will need to negotiate our way around this next encounter. I have a feeling our morals are going to be tested more than our ability to fight."
Rash grabs a mug of juice and sits back pondering her own thoughts.
Jurgen Monday September 7th, 2009 5:15:53 PM
With a brand new map of the Gateway Downs, Jurgen feels his time off has been well spent. Not to mention, he had an opportunity to relax in between chaos.
As the group converges and returns towards the end of the month, Jurgen starts preparing for whatever the Children will have to do. He does take the opportunity to teleport into Hook City with Angus and Xenia. Once there, Jurgen checks to make sure that the Cult of the Great Migration has disbanded. Or, failing that, is not causing a huge amount of trouble for the city. Now that the Migration had actually happened, what was there for Jurgen to do?
He spends some time at the docks, attempting to find out whether more ships would be going out and if he could hire a map-maker or two to get them to complete the Southern Continent. A map would be an expensive luxury, but would help connect the various cities of the South. Trade routes could be better established, boundaries if necessary for the Giants and Centaurs and whatever else may be. At the very least, it'd be something for Jurgen to do...
Kazak Monday September 7th, 2009 11:02:20 PM
Once back in Heranmar ..... the dwarven warrior checks in on his various contacts and business ventures .... the stone quarry and the local miltia ..... greeting everyone warmly .... informing them of some of the changes his has witnessed ....
Taking some time to visit the Inn and get reaquainted with Brina ... after his travels .....
Listening as Peermus discuss what might be revealed for them to face ......" things were just starting to look up .... da whole wold get reorganized ... now you say someone or groups might want to chnage what da great migration has settled ....... hmmm ..... Heranmar is just too nice of a place for others to control or conform .... da new map shows dat dis whole area is prime land .... both in resources and very possible politcal wrangling ..... we need to let dis whole area grow as its needed not as some outside influeance wants ..... "
With a look at the Driud " i ain't much for religion but dem crones sure have been right about lots of stuff and has helped me and Durgan ....and all of us ..... "
"Dem here tattoos helped the course of da great migration .... we now need dem to help dis area stay safe from outside influence "
"We need to get some time of communication going between der various new nieghbors to help dem thawrt what ever might be revealed to us "
ooc: sorry for be MIA ......i'm back and ready to rumble ;-)