Feast Feast Feast Feast. (DM SteveK) Monday June 21st, 2021 6:39:00 AM
Sarge bows. "Thank you, Forge Lord, for this great honor," she says.
Toston says, "I never thought I'd join a Dwarven clan. If only my grand-da could see me now. He went to the lands of rest but he was the one that told me tales of Domi and Alemi as a child."
Desdichado follows Sarge's lead, bows his head and says "Thank you, Forge Lord."
Gaffer bows his head too, while smiling "I feel honored, thank you, Forge Lord." and marvels at the blue stone.
Hmerrin marvels "Sweeet", before catching himself. "Uh, thank you, Forge Lord. This is a great honor." ……………
Thanks done, gifts done, the leaders of the local dwarf clans soon retire for the evening. Forge Lord Ulthern, Lord Hammerhand, LordDeephall, and Lady SilvermaneIt don’t troop the hall to the main doors or depart in further ceremony, but slip away behind the great table. (Perception DC 25 Highlight to display spoiler: { A very cleverly hidden secret door that looks like the stone wall opens, and they are gone. } ) Sarge knows this is normal, and any dwarf sitting nearby knows too; the Lords leave early to drink together and discuss things, while everyone else can carry on with the feast.
More drink, more food, more drink, more songs, more drink… The long horns announce the day dawning before the party starts to break up. Many dwarf congratulate the heroes, clap them on the back, or raise yet another granite stein in acknowledgement. And as dwarf return to beds, songs and weaving lines of dwarf arm in arm fill the corridors.
The Tide can eventually find their chambers.
And there, they find yet another surprise. On each bed is a small chest: box, walls, lid and even the hinges cunningly carved as a single piece from alabaster jade streaked in green. Inside are gemstones: agate and beryl, onyx and garnet, jasper and shimmering moonstone. A note explains the miners of DeepForge wished to express their own appreciation for the Tide. Altogether, the worth to each hero is 20,000gp!
(Heroes have the initiative for any actions) …………………
OOC: The Tide can rest and recuperate here in DeepForge as long as the team wishes.
All heroes gain 100,000xp for successful module completion! 8,000 Scene1 4,000 Scene 2 10,000 Scene 3 15,000 Scene 4 100,000 Bonus 137,000 xp since October 2020 takes the CMTC to 14th level.
Note 1: If your PC is not 14th level, adjust to the minimum of 445,000xp Note 2: All PCs should have a minimum of 170,000 gp WBL Note 3: Please update PC sheets NLT 27 June for DM review.
Sarge [AC 21; HP 96/96] (Kathy) Monday June 21st, 2021 12:58:45 PM
Sarge examines the box and the gems with an appreciative eye before stowing them with the rest of her gear.
Hmerrin (MikeK)(HP 153/153 AC:33 T:19 FF:26 CMD:33) Monday June 21st, 2021 7:39:22 PM
In the wee hours, Hmerrin blearily stumbles back to his quarters. Noting the chest, he opens it, and takes in all the gems. "Very nice," he murmurs.
Then, he collapses onto his bed and sleeps for the next 10 hours.
The next day, after a cold, cold, mug of water, he feels better. Upon reexamining the contents of the chest, he is much more appreciative.
"Maybe there's something else we can kill for your Forge Lord," he comments happily to Sarge. "The coming home party is awesome!"
A bit later, while again looking at the gems, he asks, "There wouldn't happen to be a WLA Chapterhouse here, would there?"
Desdichado(Ryan) [HP: 144/144; AC:26/12/26 - CMD 26] DR:3/- Monday June 21st, 2021 7:54:25 PM
"Now that was a celebration!" says Desdichado as the party breaks up and everyone groggily stumbles back to their quarters.
Late the next day he wakes up and gets back into a routine - mostly of enjoying the table - he asks, "Since we've been adopted by the clan, are there rights and responsibilities that go along with that?"
Toston Lotor(Hugh Crosmun) [HP: 134/134; AC:42/27/35 vs G6; 37/22/30 vs everyone else - CMD 34 d20+24=38 ; Tuesday June 22nd, 2021 1:55:03 AM
(Perception: 38)
Toston notices the hidden passageway.
He also appreciates the gem box. He carefully stows his hat and outfit and goes to bed.
Gaffer - Courtney - HP: 113/113 AC: 25(T:16/FF:20) CMD:29) Tuesday June 22nd, 2021 4:52:11 AM
After a long day and many drinks Gaffer ignores the chest as he stumbles over to bed and falls quickly to sleep for a well deserved rest.
Rights and Responsibilities (DM SteveK) Tuesday June 22nd, 2021 8:07:36 AM
Sarge, Hmerrin, Desdichado, Toston, and Gaffer all sleep the sleep of the just. Just inebriated, just stuffed with food, just inducted as honorary members of DeepForge Clan!
However, even such a great rest has to come to an end. Eventually (eventually!), there is a next day.
The chest and gems are a welcome sight, some appreciating it more when they are awake enough to truly see.
Hmerrin wants to know about the possibility of a WLA Chapterhouse, and should be pleased to know the Clan has a small group here. The young man gets a guide who takes him through the soaring halls of the Clan, some lit by glowing lichen, some by magic, and some by roaring fire. Near the trading hall is where dwarf who are affiliated with outland organizations. There he sees a sign for the Sages Guild, another for the Mailed Fist, and then the familiar Tower of the WLA. Yes, here Hmerrin can train, get information, or anything else he may wish.
Desdichado has an interesting question that escaped scrutiny in the revelry last night. Being adopted, they weren’t told of any rights or responsibilities to go along with the name. This is answered when stops by towards the evening meal.
”Ah yes, you see Forge Lord Ulthern didn’t only name you honorary clan, but Most Honored. And you may want to remember three things as Most Honored non-dwarf.
First, Any clan member can ask for assistance from another clan member with dual expectations. The asked clan will help if feasible, and the asker will be in debt to the clan member they asked until the debt is paid.
Second, Any clan member can also expect the protection of the clan even without asking, and are expected to defend the clan in turn; whether with body or with boast.
Third, As Most Honored, however, Forge Lord Ulthern provided status and changed your rights and responsibilities. In short, you will never be asked to help. The Most Honored are assumed to always do actions that support the lives and honor of the Clan, and the Dwarf Lords trust that in your judgement you will always do what is right.”
The dwarf’s words sink in, both more freeing and an even heavier responsibility than a mere list of rules.
(The heroes have the initiative on any actions)
Sarge [AC 21; HP 96/96] (Kathy) Tuesday June 22nd, 2021 4:16:39 PM
Sarge gives Dez a friendly clap on the shoulder. "Don't worry about all the responsibility," she says. "You get used to it."
Desdichado(Ryan) [HP: 144/144; AC:26/12/26 - CMD 26] DR:3/- Tuesday June 22nd, 2021 4:57:55 PM
“What can I say?” says Desdichado, “I’m a paladin. If I didn’t have an overdeveloped sense of responsibility, I’d be in the wrong career.”
Hmerrin (MikeK)(HP 153/153 AC:33 T:19 FF:26 CMD:33) Tuesday June 22nd, 2021 8:39:39 PM
"Uh," Hmerrin replies to Stohl, "if we off gallivanting around, and you need help, how are we gonna know, if you can't ask us for it?"
Seems like a problem to the young fighter. But, its a problem for another day.
Having located the local chapter of the Woldian League, he drops down 3500 gp in dues for the Officer rank, and places himself at the tender mercies of whoever is gonna teach him to Die Hard.
Toston Lotor(Hugh Crosmun) [HP: 134/134; AC:42/27/35 vs G6; 37/22/30 vs everyone else - CMD 34 Tuesday June 22nd, 2021 10:41:08 PM
Toston joins Hmerrin at the WLA as he is currently already an Champion rank all Toston has to do is put in his time at the spellcraft training lesson.
He also shows his friends the gold dragon wings he can grow as a standard action and fly around using.
Gaffer - Courtney - HP: 135/135 AC: 25(T:16/FF:20) CMD:30) Wednesday June 23rd, 2021 5:03:39 AM
Understanding their new responsibilities, and with Hmerrin's comment about them often being on the move, he would like to talk to Stohl, or whoever is appropriate, about any large plants they tend to here that Gaffer might be able to use for Transport via Plants to directly reach the stronghold if they are needed.
Two Weeks (DM SteveK) Wednesday June 23rd, 2021 7:57:11 AM
Sarge and Desdichado banter about overdeveloped senses of responsibility, a perfect conversation for both dwarf and paladin!
Hmerrin is still worried. “If we off gallivanting around, and you need help, how are we gonna know, if you can't ask us for it?" Stohl shakes his beard, “As a Most Honored clan member, if you are gallivanting, every DeepForge dwarf knows you are aware of your status and will act accordingly. We don’t need to ask.”
The young fighter also goes into some serious training. It really isn’t something anyone wants to discuss or remember, but Hmerrin goes into the WLA training facility and two weeks later comes out. He looks worn and wrung-out, his hair matted and there are deep circles under bloodshot eyes. His clothes are musty, worn too long, damp too long, and they are patched, stained, and only fit to be tossed into the fire. But there is new-found steel in Hmerrin’s stance, and he leaves with a new ability to keep going when most anyone else would drop.
Toston joins Hmerrin at the WLA and has a very different experience, in a magic lab discussing and practicing techniques for a bit more Spellcraft.
Gaffer wants to keep touch with the DeepForge clan and considers plants to magically transport to the dwarf halls and keep in periodic touch that way. Stohl refers the druid to the local druid circle for further coordination. It is a small group, obviously not nearly as skilled as Gaffer, and they mostly tend to the underground mushrooms, lichen, and other vegetation that supplement a dwarf diet. After conferring, they are pretty sure that Transport via Plants could be a way of getting around the teleport prohibition in the Scab. “I’ll bet you and our Tide clanmembers can emerge from a giant mushroom quite close to your home of Dirt City!”
……..
Two weeks pass, training is accomplished, Catacombs can be visited, equipment repaired and readied, bodies healed and relaxed.
Haldrick Silvervien, often visits Fryda and the other Tide. Discussing if DeepForge has any other monsters in need of removal, the old dwarf shakes his hand in a mebbe-so gesture. “DeepForge sent an Agent to do a bit of active recon and Torvalsson hasn’t returned yet. Not due for a bit, so not worried. If you are interested in setting up a message service, we can tell you what he and his team find when they get back.”
(The heroes have the initiative on any actions)
Hmerrin (MikeK)(HP 153/153 AC:33 T:19 FF:26 CMD:33) Wednesday June 23rd, 2021 6:37:58 PM
Upon his return, Hmerrin sleeps, eats, and cleans up. In that order.
It takes nearly a day for the fighter to return to his usual chipper self.
"Always happy to set up a message service," he responds to Haldrick. He glances at Sarge, "You know how to do that, right?"
Desdichado(Ryan) [HP: 144/144; AC:26/12/26 - CMD 26] DR:3/- Wednesday June 23rd, 2021 8:11:13 PM
Desdichado looks askance at the talk of "travelling via mushroom". He raises an eyebrow, but keeps his opinions to himself.
"Right, I'm ready to be off," he says. "So, should we check in on Dirt City? I'm curious how 'Tide House' has been while we've been away. But if others have thoughts on other things we should be doing, I'm all ears."
Sarge [AC 21; HP 96/96] (Kathy) Wednesday June 23rd, 2021 9:37:09 PM
"Well, there are a couple of ways of setting up a message service," Sarge says. "I can certainly cast a Message spell if we need one. But Animal Messenger is going to be beyond me. Or we could just hire people."
Toston Lotor(Hugh Crosmun) [HP: 134/134; AC:42/27/35 vs G6; 37/22/30 vs everyone else - CMD 34 Thursday June 24th, 2021 12:12:17 AM
Toston says, "Maybe we can set something up between here and us with the help of Nissa? I mean isn't animal messenger a druid thing but don't arcanists have some options too? I'm a sorcerer not a wizard but she is a wizard so maybe she'd be better at suggesting things."
Toston gets a hang of his new wings (OOC: need to do followers / cohort leveling and do gear purchases but that prolly will happen when I'm back from vacation)
Two Weeks (DM SteveK) Thursday June 24th, 2021 8:30:14 AM
Hmerrin recuperates until he returns to his usual chipper self.
Desdichado looks askance at the talk of "travelling via mushroom", but keeps his opinions to himself. The paladin is ready to check back into Dirt City and Tide House after all.
Sarge and Toston ticks off different ways they *could* manage more regular communication. Maybe even Nissa could be involved. Oh, doesn’t Toston have great-looking wings?!
(The heroes have the initiative on any actions)
Hmerrin (MikeK)(HP 153/153 AC:33 T:19 FF:26 CMD:33) Thursday June 24th, 2021 6:41:01 PM
"I'm with Dez," Hmerrin chimes in. "Time to be heading home."
He stretches and scratches his chin. "So, that's what, a few days walk, then a river ride, and then walking some more, right?"
Gaffer - Courtney - HP: 135/135 AC: 25(T:16/FF:20) CMD:30) Thursday June 24th, 2021 8:49:32 PM
Gaffer will of course offer to teleport the party closer to Dirt City through the mushrooms, he's excited about the prospect but already knows a few of the party members are not so keen. "It's quick and painless and you'll hardly notice that you're inside a mushroom, I promise."
Toston Lotor(Hugh Crosmun) [HP: 134/134; AC:42/27/35 vs G6; 37/22/30 vs everyone else - CMD 34 Thursday June 24th, 2021 11:07:00 PM
Toston says, "You guys can walk if you want, but I may fly."
Desdichado(Ryan) [HP: 144/144; AC:26/12/26 - CMD 26] DR:3/- Thursday June 24th, 2021 11:32:44 PM
"If you are all okay with it, I'm willing to risk the disgustingness of traveling by mushroom," says Desdichado. "It would save some time. I still think it sounds gross, though."
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