A Year in Gateway Downs [DM SteveK] Wednesday January 12th, 2011 11:17:23 AM
Loot is sorted through. - Xenia quickly makes a mathematical matrix to evenly divide the loot. - Firn'gaer looks at the book. He comes to the immediate conclusion it is going to take him a while to sort through the combination of symbolism, language, and codes that are all jumbled together. The gnome is immediately sure that the Symbol on the cover is something he's never seen before. Nothing in all his knowledge that has been gathered through the past gives a clue. It's probably going to take a month or two of study to make sure Firn'gaer's translations are correct. (hint, hint: will be a month or two of game time for personal actions.)
Rash Highlight to display spoiler: { I'm planning a significant downtime here. Do you want Rash to still be pregnant for the last adventure, or would you mind if it is after she has a new baby and has to leave the newborn at home for one more venture?}
The Refugee villagers will set up a feast for the heroes in thanksgiving of thier protection and the knowledge that just over that pass are more towns and villages. They don't have much in the way of provisions, but music, dancing, and laughter are plentiful.
The CoC talk into the night about what to do next. Several suggestions are to get back to Heranmar or the other homes of the various heroes. What the champions decide is ultimately up to them.
From a sinuous fire-lit dervish, to spirited stomping jigs, to amazing feats of acrobatics, Xenia dances. Though poor in conventional wealth, they are, at least for this evening, rich in heart and community.
"Yeah, I'd like to get back to Heranmar." Returning briefly to the others, Xenia grabs up a cup brimming with clear cold water and downs the entire thing in a single gulp. From her forehead, she wipes a sheen of sweat from her brow with the back of her forearm. "Need to check on preparations for my trading ship." Then she spins off toward the fires of the celebration to dance some more.
Later, under the dark of the night sky, Xenia dreams. In her dreams the darkness is full of wordless whispers. They call to her. They wander, lost in empty longing. Soon enough, though, the light of early morning draws the girl rogue up from the depths of her slumber. She blinks until she recognizes the vast deep blue expanse before her eyes as the sky. She sits up in her bedroll with a frown and says, "Musta been sump'in I ate."
Torgon AC: 33 HP : 124/186 Wednesday January 12th, 2011 3:15:42 PM
Torgon watches the festivities, eating well, and drinking better. "These last few months have been a whirl." He thinks to himself. "Teleporting villages...flying mountains...Lawful ants...chaotic demons...Angry dragons. Time for a nice long rest. Perhaps after a trip to the catacombs, I will head back home, and be able to spend some time with my people."
Torgon is shaken from his thoughts as he sees the people dance and celebrate life. "Yes...time to go home."
Kazak Stonewall Ac 36 Hp 229/229 Wednesday January 12th, 2011 9:47:59 PM
Enjoying the festivities that the Refugee villagers have put together .....laughing and telling story's of the recent times of chaos .......
After the party is over ... the dwarf stays up late ..... staring up at the night sky .....he bright stars shining down ....pondering what path he shall follow next ...... plans and ideas spin in his head ..... but he finally falls fast asleep .......
ooc.. sell .... sell ;-) stevek - are their any maps of all the changes in the southern continent ??
DM SteveK: Yes, but only for DMs. :-) Since the Southern Continent shifts every so often, you will never find a cartographer in the Southern Continent who will put together a composite map. That happens to be one of special things about the Southern Continent per the PTB.
You can find the Gateway Downs at the Woldepedia. Here is the link: http://www.woldiangames.com/Woldipedia/index.php/Gateway_Downs
I will also tell you that the Children of Chaos have pretty much identified at least the lands bordering Gateway Downs. North and West is the Plactic Ocean. East is Hook City. South is the Upside Down Lands. :-)
Party in the Mountains [DM SteveK] Thursday January 13th, 2011 1:47:36 PM
The party continues on. Torgon thinks about going home to the village of Taur, and Xenia, Durgan, and Kazak to Heranmar, nothing definite is decided that night.
The morning dawns bright and early, the heroes have gathered thier loot, and need to decide if they will go together to Heranmar before separating, or if they will immediately go thier separate ways.
Rash Thursday January 13th, 2011 3:16:35 PM
Rash awakens and settles in for some prayer thanking the Powers for the Children's survival and renews her spells. When done, she will walk over to Peerimus and say, "I don't know what the plans are but I am going to have to sideline myself for a couple of months until this bulge in my belly subsides. It is taking me off balance and somehow chasing after demons doesn't have my child's best interests at heart. I want to head back to the farm, see my family and reconnect for awhile. I want to check in on the abbey and make sure that everything is going well there and maybe add some static defenses and blessings to the grounds.
What are your plans? Can we take a couple of months off? Or do you want to go demon searching again quickly?
Torgon AC: 33 HP : 124/186 Thursday January 13th, 2011 4:47:10 PM
Torgon decides to join the rest of the CoC in Heranmar to split up the loot, and visit the catacombs before returning home.
he slowly awakens in the morning, pleased to be able to offer prayers of thanks for survival instead of rushing into combat. He joins the rest of his friends for the morning meal and the discussions of their plans for the future.
Xenia (AC31, HP95/109) Thursday January 13th, 2011 5:01:41 PM
"Best take care of that baby of yours, Momma Rash." Returning from a bath at the river, Xenia stops by for a grin at the cleric's growing belly. "Boy or girl? Bet you'd like a little girl."
The girl rogue sighs a small wistful sigh before taking up her towel and continuing to pat her red curls dry.
"HEY, ANYONE 'PORTIN' TO HERANMAR TODAY? Gotta catch me a ride."
Without warning, her head turns sharply. Crouched and poised for action, she searches the landscape. Then her body relaxes, she straightens. A perplexed expression dimples one cheek. "Coulda swore I heard sump'in. Weerdo stuff."
Firn'gaer AC24; HP130; Arcane Sight, See Invisibility, SR18 Thursday January 13th, 2011 7:05:50 PM
"Firn'gaer's teleport service is open for business." He says. "Young lady would you like a ride from Uncle Fernie?" He says to Xenia with a smile. "Anyone else?
"I'm heading to Heranmar for a few days. I need to gather some supplies before returning home. If no one minds, I'll take the book with me for some research on those glyphs."
Durgan Stonewall (AC 39; HP 233/322) Thursday January 13th, 2011 9:22:03 PM
"Just be careful Firn'gaer, magic can be tricky sometimes. I'll agree to a tellyport though. I'm kinda gettin used to them. Looking forward to kicking back in Heranmar with some ale."
Kazak Stonewall Ac 36 Hp 229/229 Thursday January 13th, 2011 10:11:03 PM
"How many ya got room for on this wagon ? laughs Kazak ..... "time to get some rest at home .... do some planning and a have a few ales ..... Durgan said he's buying 1st 3 rounds " teases the dwarf
ooc : map of gateway downs is plenty good , thanks steve
Rash Friday January 14th, 2011 12:02:23 AM
Rash smiles at the banter and also offers her services to get back to Hernamar. She is pleased that the farm is close to the city now. Makes things a bit easier. She will give a ride to whomever wishes to go and teleport back to the abbey.
Once she arrives, she will promptly fall to her knees and start puking. "This pregnancy thing can be tough on the stomach!" Rash sighs as she wipes her mouth.
Peerimus AC 46/47 vs evil HP 205/205 and Yorrick AC 46 HP 121/160 Friday January 14th, 2011 12:17:06 AM
Peerimus dances with abandon if not rythm and takes in the party in full. "Rash, I plan to return to Heranmar and leave the Balor be. Take of yourself, your family and child. We will never be too far." Peerimus has no issue with Firngaer taking possession of the book and learning what we can, though the druid's interest in it is not very high.
"If you have room for myself and Yorrick, I will journey with you good Firngaer."
Once back, Peerimus will be in his grove, catching up with Wanderwood, though to the great tree he knows almost no real time has past, and with Two Stripes, Red tail and the small host of other now sentient creatures that live in and about the woods
Torgon AC: 33 HP : 124/186 Friday January 14th, 2011 8:07:47 AM
Torgon will also offer his teleport services, "But we would probably be wisest to use Firn'Gaer's and Rash's teleports. Mine are not as accurate as theirs are." Torgon looks toward Rash's growing belly "And why take chances when the fate of the Wold is not at stake."
Torgon will catch a ride back to Heranmar to relax with his friends for a few days, and visit the catacombs before heading home.
Porting to Heranmar [DM SteveK] Friday January 14th, 2011 10:01:24 AM
The Children of Chaos as a whole teleports unerringly to Heranmar. The Great Migration is [finally] at an end, and there is no barrier to magical travel between the lands. The Chaos Bell and the Cube of Law are locked in the extremely hard to get Valley at the Center of the Southern Continent and balance has come to the geography.
There also don't appear to be any powerful people that the COC need to hunt down, nor are there any who are lurking about and hunting down the COC!
Prosperity is beginning to arrive to Heranmar and the other communities of the Gateway Downs. Trade is up, communication between ruling bodies is up, and catacylsmic events of mega-death is way, way down.
Sigh.... time to catch up on what needs doing!
[Heroes, take a month of what you want to do. I'll post up on Monday on what all has been happening!]
Xenia (AC31, HP95/109) Friday January 14th, 2011 3:16:38 PM
"Thanks, Fernie." The girl rogue stoops to embrace the gnome. Once back, the dark girl makes a round of the town, waving hello to people, to let 'em know that they're back. Stopping in to chat a while with Holly before jumping through the magic door to sell the loot at the Catacombs.
From there, her long slim legs take Xenia down to the docks where she inspects the progress on the ship that will some day take her back to Yrth, the Northern Continent. Fast and maneuverable, it won't carry a lot in the way of trade goods. She'll have to be selective about what she takes.
Something on the water catches the eye of the girl rogue. A shimmering dark spot dances on the surface, indicating, perhaps, the presence of something just below. "Now ... what are you, Little Weerdo Thing?" She stalks across the slats of the wooden dock with bow in hand. "Little floaty fish? Snappy turtle? A jelly disk?" The dark spot moves with a sudden swiftness. It makes straight for her, but when it reaches the dock, it disappears.
Xenia side-steps to find the shadows. Cloaked in darkness, she watches and listens, scanning the waters for a re-appearance. Minutes pass and minutes pass. Nothing happens.
"Weerdo stuff," the rogue mutters. She leaves the docks. There are magic projects to complete. Can't be waiting around here.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
OoC: I'm not sure you've been getting my emails, Steve. I have one that finalizes the Catacombs sale of our loot. It asks whether we can put the gold into use.
SteveK: Sorry, havent' looked at my email all week. sent out approvals
Firn'gaer AC24; HP130; Arcane Sight, See Invisibility, SR18 Friday January 14th, 2011 10:18:41 PM
Firn'gaer can take Yorrick and 4 others back to Heranmar.
Kazak Stonewall Ac 36 Hp 229/229 part 1 Friday January 14th, 2011 10:20:35 PM
Kazak arrives back ...... " come on bro .... your buying drinks ..... i'll buy da meal " grins the dwarf to his brother ... " time to get to da Inn ...."
Once at the Inn Kazak settles inn .... greeting those about ...... listening to their banter ....
ooc" part 2 to follow with month long list ;-)
Porting to Heranmar [DM SteveK] Saturday January 15th, 2011 7:45:57 PM
OOC: All, sent out an email to ask... what campaign do you want to be after COC retires this summer?
- Rum?
- Al Mathir?
- Downgate?
- Something else?
Jerry has final approval, but our votes will matter!
Firn'gaer AC24; HP130; Arcane Sight, See Invisibility, SR18 Sunday January 16th, 2011 6:05:45 PM
I would vote for Rum of the three choices, but I've never played in any Northern Continent campaigns si if there is something there people would like to play in, I'm good with that.
Peerimus will be spending a quiet month in the grove, caring for the plants and animals. No plans beyond enjoying the Wold about him, wind through his hair or under his spread wings as he rides the thermals just off shore. A day or two feeling the deep earth with his roots and soaking in the sunshine. Some time spent in the nearly forgotten joy of chasing other squirrels and leaping through the trees. The month is both long and short at the same time, but Peerimus lives it as fully as he can. The rest of the Wold a distant foggy memory
Underestimation On the Book [DM SteveK] Tuesday January 18th, 2011 4:34:37 PM
The Children of Chaos come together in Heranmar, and then go thier separate ways.
Peerimus looks to reconnect with nature.
Xenia looks to reconnect with her merchant ventures.
Rash looks to reconnect with her family.
Torgon looks to reconnect with his vilage.
Firn'gaer seeks to build his Tower and learn the secrets of the Black Book.
Durgan and Kazak find themselves still in Heranmar, and so the brothers go about thier lives with the town militia and the stone quarry business they have built.
.................
And a Year quietly passes
................
Xenia's ship is built, a navigator and crew selected from Heranmar and local fishing villages, and has made a shake-down voyage west to Three Forks Inn and east to Hook City. With the wealth of goods and information gained from this voyage, her Navigator feels that they are nearly ready to attempt a north-bound voyage to Elennia.
Rash has had a baby! The new(again) mother has a healthy baby with lusty lungs; the recent adventures apparently not having affected the child. The family is happy and the farm is prosperous.
And Firn'gaer has nearly completed his Tower. Having split his time between construction of his gnomish warren on the edge of the Lake of Wane and researching the Black Book, neither have been done to schedule, but have progressed even so. The gnomish wizard has even had a wandering peddler with a string of donkeys come by and promised to make the Tower a regular stop every equinox.
The Black Book is another matter. A combination rune, pictogram, and code has been maddeningly difficult to piece together. But finally, Firn'gaer has learned enough to know that the Book is from the future!
Torgon AC: 33 HP : 124/186 Tuesday January 18th, 2011 6:51:56 PM
Torgon spends time happily with his people, instructing them in the ways of their new neighbors.
"Sharpen your wit before you sharpen your blade, Alexandria." It's what her Da used to say. Words to live by. Xenia sets up camp in a nice cozy spot near Peerimus' grove and commences to reading the books she had bought in the Catacombs.
The girl rogue finds that the woods are not as peaceful and free from distraction as she had thought. There are the young badgers who spy on her from the edge of the clearing, running through the underbrush, believing themselves unheard and unseen. And there's the one who makes the weerdo floaty balls of light that approach and dance about, toying with her attention.
Badgers will be badgers as the saying sort of goes, and the girl rogue manages to ignore them. Mostly. More difficult to ignore are the dreams. Dark, haunted and empty, she floats within the realm of sleep. Loneliness pervades the place, but she is not alone. It is there, longing, questing, reaching. Xenia wakes from these dreams vexed, and yet, oddly, unafraid.
One day, some days after the party held to celebrate the birth of Momma Rash's child, and after many nights of dreams in which the longing had come closer and closer and closer, Xenia walks out of the woods and into town. Trailing behind her is a small dark form, an indistinct bit of darkness exposed under the light of day. It clings to the robes of the red-headed girl, like a child who would hide her mother's skirts.
"This is Sylvia." Before the gathering of other Chaos Guys - Champions, Champions of The Chaos Bell - Xenia swirls her hands about in the darkness, coaxing it about. She opens her mouth to speak and a low moaning language comes forth, issuing soothing words of comfort. The small dark thing turns then, peering out at the array of Champions of Chaos. The eyes in the face that look out from beneath cascading shadow locks, are pinpoint lights of red. "She came to me last night," Xenia says. "After many nights of searching. I named her after your woods, Peerimus. Sylvia, after Sylvan."
Sylvia reaches up a hesitant hand, an insubstantial thing, the absence of light made flesh. She opens her mouth. "Ooohhhhh ... " she says before tucking her face back into the comfort and safety of Xenia's black robes.
"Sylvie gives greetings," Xenia says. "Tomorrow we sail for Hook City."
Rash Tuesday January 18th, 2011 9:51:13 PM
Rash enjoys her new son and spending time with her husband and other children. The farm life is peaceful and prosperous but ultimately Rash gets a bit bored with the planting of crops, tending of livestock and rearing of children. As she looks at her growing family, she worries about the future and starts making plans to make Heranmar and the surrounding area safe and prosperous for the generation to come. She centers most of her plan on the Abbey
During the course of the year, she makes frequent trips to the abbey supervising the construction, training of the priests and blessing the works and adding powerful defenses to the inner sanctum. She also conducts services for the locals and does good works of healing to local populace. She will try to mediate disputes and set up the local priests as fair and impartial judges to help govern Heranmar and outlying areas. She will make sure that the abbey is a safe place/stronghold for the locals to retreat to but also a place of learning and hope for anyone who is willing to learn.
Finally she will recruit some likely youth from the area and outside it, bring them to the abbey and start training them in weapons and armor. Again she is thinking ahead to the days when the Children are gone and Heranmar needed the start of a militia. She is hopeful that her temple guard will be the backbone of such a force and hires an instructor to train the youth. Each recruit will receive a nice wool cloak held together with a sliver pin one they have proved themselves worthy. The pin will be shaped like a falchion and shield like Rash carries (war domain afterall) She will make sure to travel to Savin's academy and offer a place for the monks to have, study and train at the abbey
Finally she worries that the abbey must be self sufficient and looks to buy land and build farms so the abbey can feed itself and not just rely upon the donations and tithes of others. (ooc I am not sure of the political situation or landownership rights but I am sure things are scrambled up after the migration) Rash will claim the local area around the abbey as abbey lands. She will encourage the building of farms who will pay fair rents to the abbey to lease the land. She will encourage settlers by hiring workers to help build the farms, barns and other outbuildings and bringing in farm animals like horses, oxen, sheep, swine and cows.
Finally before the year is over, Rash spends some time in writing scrolls for the future adventures feeling that one more big adventure was coming there way.
Rash between savings and this last treasure haul has 76,449 to spend. Foregoing the Catacombs Rash pens the following scrolls
Mass Heal x 2 at 17th level Firestorm at 17th level Righteous Might x 3 at 19th level Divine Power x 2 at 19th level Greater Dispel magic x 2 at 19th level
Total expenditures in scrolls 29,500 gps
She leave her husband and children 10,000 gps to maintain the family farm
She will spend 10,000 gps on the abbey for construction costs and materials She will spend 10,000 gps on the abbey's magical protections and blessings She will spend 5,000 gps in materials, labor and start up tools and farm animals and seed She will spend 5,000 gps for a start up armory for the abbey in weapons and armor She will spend 5,000 gps to start a library in scrolls, manuscripts and books
This leaves her 1,949 gps for walking around money
Peerimus AC 46/47 vs evil HP 205/205 and Yorrick AC 46 HP 121/160 d20+1=19 ; Tuesday January 18th, 2011 10:23:16 PM
In between weeks of rest or spending the time in one form or another, peerimus travels to the catacombs as well. A thought of the Black Book tickling the back of his brain. In the early fall, he makes a point to travel to the farms about Hernamar adding some magic to the land for an assured bountiful harvest. While Xenia is in the grove, the druid puts word that she is there for the peace and quiet. A quiet connection that he has always fully believed can only be found away from the distractions of civilization, but badgers will be badgers.
Peerimus 's head slowly tilts to the side in curiosity at the darkness, the living shadow, that flanks the young woman as she introduces it. His enchanted feather, an artifact tha allows him to understand and communicate with all living things is strangely quiet. A fact that in some parts of his mind does not sit well with him as that fact points dangerously in a thin line to the creatures origins. A fact that he does his best to hold away from his features, but the ever perceptive Xenia likely knows precisely his true feelings and likely concern over the implications. [Bluff 19]
"Well met." he manages after too long a pause.
CC purchase upgrade cloak of Resistance to +5 [9k]; purchase Bracers armor +7 [49k], purchase Gloves of Dexterity +6 [36k] 94k total
Kazak Stonewall Ac 36 Hp 229/229 part 1 Tuesday January 18th, 2011 11:23:28 PM
With an extended time to recoup rest and make plans ..... the dwarvern warrior starts to set in motion his next phase of his life ....
looking to buy or stake a claim to some land ....Kazak wanders(10-20 miles) up the west road .....near the coast ..... wanting some waterfront veiws and cliffs..... for a nice vantage point ..... for his base of operations ....
The land should be farmable for both planting and farm animals ....... at least partially ......during the year long hiatus .... Kazak slowly gathers the needed building supplies and equipment ... stone from the quarry ... and wood from as he clears the land ..... (setting up a foresty program to replace those taken )(gotta keep Peerimus happy )
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