Gnubert Glitterdust (Wade) AC: 18 T: 13 F: 16 R: 5 F: 8 W: 10 HPS: 36/36 CMD: -1 Thursday March 2nd, 2023 10:04:55 PM
Gnubert defers to Drack as he knows the towns folk better than he. ”Perhaps a bit of guidance from Grog is what we need,” Gnubert nods towards Ash.
Drinks Are On Me [DM Jerry] Thursday March 2nd, 2023 10:37:02 PM
Drack sees his words taking effect as the townsfolk look to him, listening carefully to his wise words. One lady asks her husband, "I wonder which god he worships? Paladins are tied to a deity aren't they Wendall? I mean not like a priest, but aren't they?"
After a bit, Loryn begins walking towards Grog seek his advice as does Manolo. As soon as they turn, they almost runs into him as he walks up to the group. In his deep voice, he says "That was unusual! Ask me about what? This? I have no idea!"
Mortimer seems a bit frustrated. The scowl on his face is easy to spot.
Mole asks the obvious questions that are on most of the citizens mind. His questions are repeated by the gathering throng as people crowd around the party, expressing fear, hesitation, and confusion.
Various townsfolk ask, "What manner of creature are these? Why are they here? Will they come back? Why do these things happen to Windhorn?"
Loryn goes on to explain his logic for a return trip if they capture Walker. And at that moment, the sky lights up. Greenish looking from the northern farm area. Cries of battle. Several fireballs going on. Screams of pain and sounds of battle. A demonic sounding laugh.
Then silence. Then the sound of hooves and wind.
Then the demon riders fly back at high speed as the gate struggles to open. But there is only two of them returning.
Between them they carry the still form of Walker. They shoot through the gateway just as other undead crowd the entrance on the other side of this rift, gate, or whatever it is trying to get out. Immediately the opening closes with a huge clap that sounds like thunder.
Then all is still.
Silence.
A chill passes over everyone--it must be cold on the other side.
Phaedra Swiftshine, head of the Windguard, is standing by Grog. Tall, muscular, and sure--yet she shivers. Then looking around at the townsfolk, she makes a decision. "I will have the Windguard remain here for the night and keep watch. While they get organized, I think we all need a drink. Tonight, the drinks are on me, Grog.
Most everyone nods and the townsfolk begin walking towards Grog's
Grog turns to Gnubert and Ash. "If you and yours would help me distribute drinks for a bit, I'd be obliged. I think we're going to have a house full."
Gnubert Glitterdust (Wade) AC: 18 T: 13 F: 16 R: 5 F: 8 W: 10 HPS: 36/36 CMD: -1 Friday March 3rd, 2023 4:16:34 AM
Gnubert defers to Drack as he knows the towns folk better than he. ”Perhaps a bit of guidance from Grog is what we need,” Gnubert nods towards Ash.
Torrynashkabbeth (Nick) HP:27/27 AC:17 F9: R:10 W:12 Friday March 3rd, 2023 6:05:55 AM
Well! She hadn't expected things to happen quite that fast, but it did at least put an end to her confusion. Also, whilst Sacred Dancers were meant to be courageous and set a fine example, she didn't mind admitting that she was relieved that they didn't have to pass through that portal and fight all those things. Serving drinks was much easier. Torryn had no issues with taking drinks to all and sundry. She sought to get the townsfolk to see it as "exciting" rather than dangerous. They'd survived and no one was hurt. Some would be determined worriers and there was little she could do about that. Still, if there was music, she could dance and dance always lifted spirits.
Ash Macfarlane - Shawn R; AC: 11(T 11, FF 10), CMD: 24 HP: 31/31 Friday March 3rd, 2023 8:50:24 AM
Ash stands with his mouth wide open, a chill permeated his bones. After a few seconds, he nods to Grogg first and Gnubert second. Ash thought Walker was an abrasive person, but he meant well... and now his limp body was being dragged to some other plane full of undead. If any plane could be called a hell, that must be it Ash thought to himself.
When Grog gives them the heads up, he'll help pass out drinks.. making sure to say hello, or make mention of a towns person that he saw earlier while walking around town.
Drack (Chris J) - hp 35/35 - AC 18 Friday March 3rd, 2023 10:43:48 AM
Drack started to pull his sword as the green light appeared in the distance, But in an instance, they were gone.
Drack turns to the townsfolk.”They are gone. All is well at the moment. I will split the drinks with Phaedra. Let us go and relax.”
On the way to the Grog’s, Drack will move next to Loryn. “We need to find out why so much weird stuff keeps happening here. Is it cursed, or some sort of inter dimensional travel point? Either way, we need to figure out how to shut it down.”
Drack (Chris J) - hp 35/35 - AC 18 Friday March 3rd, 2023 10:50:31 AM
“Oh yeah, and Loryn? feel free to find me some evil to smite.”
Drack will help pass out drinks, and use his diplomacy to further calm the townsfolk
Mortimer Margrave (Stephen F.): ac:22/17/19. temp/hp:48/34. shield, false life Friday March 3rd, 2023 12:48:12 PM
Mortimer's jaw drops as he gawks at Walker and the corpse demons galloping for the open gate to the nightmare realm. There being only two dark riders for the return trip does not go unnoticed. He can only assume that Walker was able to slay one of them. That allows him a quick grin of satisfaction.
That satisfaction continues as this was bonafide proof he was right. However he is not the kind of person to say I told you so. Mortimer hates blatherskiting prats like that, and he won't become one of them.
Later as Grog is passing out drinks to the townsfolk, Mortimer will offer up a toast, "Everyone, I'd like ta toast ole' Kandruth Walker. He may be down but he's not out. That ole' bastard showed those dark riders what for! Went down kickin' and swingin'. Slayed one of them, he did! Cheers to Walker ... may your curse end someday soon." He downs his drink in a single gulp.
Later, he walks over where Drack and Loryn are talking and offers his own suggestion. "Our next steps should be a visit to the farms north of town; at daybreak. Somethin' big happened out there. Ya may get your chance ta smite after all."
AC 13 HP 34/34 Loryn Glitterfall; Dan K Friday March 3rd, 2023 3:54:17 PM
Loryn's eyes get big as the fight erupts in the relatively near distance. Things were far closer than he would have guessed and he was terrifically unprepared for it. By the time his brain breaks away and calls his body to any action, the riders are past and the gate closed. The gnome just stands there staring at the now closed gate for a moment or two.
Loryn looks up as Drack starts talking to him, "Now that sounds like a job for the heroic wol...." he trails off with a grin and holds up his arms in a faux defense. "I agree, Windhorn seems to be a magnet, and it would be everyone's best interest to source it out."
Immediate action seemed to be to help calm everyone down. This would be a topic for a few days if not weeks and the group was going to be one of the main sources of comfort and calm. Loryn found the custom of drinking for little reason than to drink an odd one. Most of the races as a whole carried the tradition of doing so, with dwarves leading the charge so to speak. Be that as it may, Loryn will take a drink or two and find a citizen to hand them to.
"I agree with that Mortimer and sooner rather than later so as the site does not become overly muddled. From there we break to the outlying homesteads and make a round of appearances and lastly hit the shrine and make sure nothing, like the third rider, has been left behind"
Spells: Acid Ray 8/8 30' range Innate: 1st lvl: 7/7 2nd lvl: 4/5
Gnubert Glitterdust (Wade) AC: 18 T: 13 F: 16 R: 5 F: 8 W: 10 HPS: 36/36 CMD: -1 Friday March 3rd, 2023 7:43:10 PM
Gnubert smiles at Grog, "of course, I would be glad to help. Plus it will help my mind to stay busy with my hands." Gnubert can't help but wish he had some of his siblings understanding of the arcane and planes. The cleric gets a wistful look in his eyes as he begins to hand out drinks, and make conversation with various townsfolk.
Manolo (Michael A) -- AC 18/15/13 -- CMD 19 -- HP 31/31 Friday March 3rd, 2023 7:56:54 PM
Manolo accepts the drinks offered to him... 'Today it's fine to drink a lot', he thinks. "We need to get stronger", he says while drinking of the ales offered. He listen to his friends but only half of it he understands and accepts. 'We are going to have...no we must become stronger "'', he says out loudly...expressing his thoughts loudly..
"We Must Become Stronger" [DM Jerry] Saturday March 4th, 2023 1:24:05 PM
The evening is spent easing the fears of the townsfolk. Even in Windhorn Hamlet, one does not see rifts open and mounted undead coming and going every day. Much talk concerns why such things tend to happen in Windhorn and if the town is cursed in some unknown way.
When groups of folks tend to get too morbid, Grog or Phaedra Swiftshine make an appearance at the table and try change the conversation.
Grog nods at Manolo and Gnubert as he passes, "Thanks for being willing to help, Gnubert. That table over by the piano is getting a bit....fussy. Manolo, if you and Gnubert don't mine, take over that snack plate and pitcher of mead I've set out on the bar and seeing if you can check on them? Liram and Niram are over there and they loooooove drama. The folks around them are getting a bit worked up.
You look across and Niram is speaking very loudly? "I think this is the next Crisis! They call them Adventurer's Crisis but I think they are part of the problem! Every time one of them groups turns up, something begins to happen! And lookee here. We have one now!"
Liram answers, "Nah, a couple of them are kinda cute. I don't mind them."
Niram grimaces and makes fake noises like she wants to throw up.
-----
[Everyone may choose to make some appropriate skill checks to affect the room and the stressed out citizens. Diplomacy is probably the best choice, but I won't limit you.]
Torry's efforts to get the people to think of it as exciting meet little success so far. [Torry make a diplomacy or perform skill check to see if you can influence the tavern in this direction.]
Ash helps pass out drinks and show himself friendly talking to those he has met or seen before.
Drack helps Phaedra pass out drinks and work the crowd, but he has the same question on his mind that many have this night, "Why?" and "Why here?" and "What can we do about this?" [Drack feel free to make voluntary checks at any time when I'm DMing. You don't have to be prompted or directed. Just state what you are wanting to happen. :)]
Loryn also chips in helping pass out drinks while observing the oddity of how drinking something happens at such times. Just as he thinks this, an older guy sitting alone takes a drink from him and says, "May I forget everything." He then pauses as if that is a prayer and drinks it down. He looks up sheepishly as if that didn't help at all.
Manolo wisely speaks saying that "we" must become stronger. Then he says it again, very loudly as if it was a declaration of wisdom, which it may be.
The townsfolk seem to have thought of "danger to Windhorn" to be something that happened to previous generations, not to them. The concern is in every eye, "Is it happening again?"
Torryn tried to be diplomatic, but hr gentle tones were lost amid the worried hubbub. (First roll: Diplomacy: 10) She then espied the piano and petitioned the player to liven things up so that she could dance. Dancing always cheered people up. It was an irrefutable fact. So she danced. (Perform: 23) She was a far better dancer than diplomat. Torryn di her convivial best to drag others onto the dancefloor. She could make even the worst seem passable.
Gnubert Glitterdust (Wade) AC: 18 T: 13 F: 16 R: 5 F: 8 W: 10 HPS: 36/36 CMD: -1 Saturday March 4th, 2023 6:46:11 PM
Gnubert defers to Drack as he knows the towns folk better than he. ”Perhaps a bit of guidance from Grog is what we need,” Gnubert nods towards Ash.
AC 13 HP 34/34 Loryn Glitterfall; Dan K d20+13=15 ; Sunday March 5th, 2023 9:46:37 AM
Loryn was no longer concerned about speaking with Grog, he was only going to ask about Koshe Marr and the undead riders. What was beginning to happen now, was typical human stuff. It happened with the gremlins and now again. Some seemed to have a predisposition to panic. That's how Agatha almost ended up on the wrong end of a fire. To Loryn, the cleric of the gods and the paladin of Domi were the best 2 candidates to calm things down. His experience was that those types of occupations carried training and practice is such things, leading the flock and all. Loryn was practiced at getting one or two people to believe a tale so as to allow him to continue doing what he wanted at the time. With a pull on his nose, it seemed like he was going to see how effective that might be on a larger scale. Loryn decides to start with one or two people and build, scanning about for a couple that might be taking it in from a small distance.
Fixing his WLA badge, he heads over to his targets with a pair of drinks, "Don't you mind or worry, Nirma is a performer and that means drama. We sent the ogre packing last year, cleared the gremlins and last month put an end to the evil at a nearby long unused homestead. About half a dozen of these riders were there and we sent them back to their cowardly master. Probably why those 3 just ran past" He leaves it at that with a smile and determined look and a pat to the thigh, he had others to tell the same mix of truth and lie to.
Bluff 15
Spells: Acid Ray 8/8 30' range Innate: 1st lvl: 7/7 2nd lvl: 4/5
Mortimer Margrave (Stephen F.): ac:22/17/19. temp/hp:48/34. shield, false life Sunday March 5th, 2023 2:29:34 PM
It was probably wise, Mortimer thinks, that Grog hadn't asked him to help serve drinks. No one wants a drink given by their gravedigger. Nor a handshake, cold to the touch, likened to that of a corpse. So he decides to sit on the darker side of the room at a table seemingly by himself.
'i don't fault you for being drawn to Wardd.' says a voice out of the corner of Mortimer's eye. The voice belonging to Lord Ambrose Margrave; a very distant relative. A dark figure only seen and heard by Mortimer, unless one possessed a particular set of perceptions.
'you may know him as a god, but in my day, he was but a mortal man. a man who was one of the finest soldiers, most courageous of warriors, i had ever known. he didn't rely on dumb luck, mind you. he was highly skilled, cunning and unpredictable; he made his own luck. Wardd was the most worthy of adversaries. i can only imagine he would be an equally valuable ally.'
Mortimer takes another sip from his drink.
Drack (Chris J) - hp 35/35 - AC 18 d20+8=12 ; Sunday March 5th, 2023 6:52:25 PM
Drack will try and work the room using diplomacy (12) to try and further calm the fears of the people.. he will take some time at each table to try and answer any questions they have, to the best of his ability. He will answer honestly, and if anyone asks, he will be happy to talk about Domi and his relationship annd beliefs after being invited to be one of his holy warriors.
Mole; (RichP) AC 18; HP 48/48; CMD 16 Sunday March 5th, 2023 8:58:43 PM
Disgusted at what he saw, the lifeless body of Walker being carried back through the Gates to Koshe Marr. He looks at the humans, turns and walks away. "Such fickleness of the surface dwellers." He stops by the boarding house, only to leave a note for the others at the desk. He then gathers some kegs of ale, smoked meats and other hardy food stuffs, packed in a small keg, before heading back to his cave.
His note at the boarding house says in dwarven [/b]You know where to find me if something happens[/b]. It is signed Grund Fyrbend.
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