Verne, Martenin 29th, 838 ID
On the eve of the PCs' next mission, several of them decide to teleport back to Floivin Keep in order to go over the party treasure held in the Stride's vault in the sewers. Several items are picked up for Ox, Badger, and Lord Ballyhoo, while Mudgol snaps up a bunch of unidentified goods that he and Baro can study up at Ettenhead. They also pick up some new magical purchases at the Arkana Arkiva, and offer Mistlethroe a business partnership between the school and the keep (once renovated). Mistlethroe gets permission to sell the PCs whatever he might have in stock, but tells them that Mudgol will have to serve as their liaison for the time being. Soon after, they return to the conquered ruins and confer with Captain Banghorn over their next move. It's ultimately decided that the next day will be spent with half the party traveling to Littlewolf to make some contacts, while Mudgol and Baro will study scrolls for their spellbooks, and the rest will keep watch over Ettenhead.
Essel, Martenin 30th, 838 ID
Mudgol and Baro wake up early, identify a few items and then get to work transcribing their new scrolls. Lord Ballyhoo summons his shadowy unicorn steed, and leads Gruulsh and Ox on a trip to Littlewolf where they hope to make a few deals. En route, they encounter a haggard, near-blind old man named Bastaro who claims to be a brigand and demands coin for their safe passage. Soon the cretin relents after realizing that there are in fact three of our heroes, and he is 'pressed' into service for the fumbling entertainment he might offer, and also because he might be decent at his former profession (fisherman), and Ettenhead could use one. Gruulsh carries the old buck to Littlewolf. Upon arriving, Ox is accosted by a snotty elfin house guard while Ballyhoo's dramatic arrival draws a crowd of children. Visyo Reddenbalm seems surprised that Gruulsh returns, but bargains with the bugbear over trade possibilities at Ettenhead. It is eventually agreed that both Reddenbalm and Roodeye clans would lay some exclusive claim to diverse trade goods, and in the meantime Visyo would personally detach several of his house guard to watch over the ruin while the dwarf engineers were rebuilding it...a mysterious, elderly veiled soldier named Slasher, and two posh golden elves, one of whom is Nasriel, the very one that bothered Ox on his arrival. The group then sets out back to Ettenhead with their four new acquisitions, Ballyhoo staying behind to once again seduce a hesitant Shayla the Swineherd...
Once reunited, introductions are made at Ettenhead, and it is quickly determined that Slasher is perhaps the only competent acquisition from Littlewolf. Badger does befriend Bastaro, who invites him to join the mythic 'Brigand Empire' he is forming. After further discussion, the PCs decide they will take another day to prepare themselves and fetch supplies to the old stronghold, rather than rush off to face the Score and Blooded Lash at the Haunted Horrn, or scout on the progress of the Vandrakki berserkers to the North. As evening sets in, so too does a storm, the worst rain, wind and lightning in Floivin Province for months, and the PCs and their recruits take shelter in whatever structure can cover them, except for Badger and Gruulsh who remain out in the rain, shaggied up.
Ivric, Martenin 31st, 838 ID
Having completed the memorization of their new spells, Baro and Mudgol execute a plan to teleport a few party members back to gather goods. They bring along Captain Banghorn, Badger and Lord Ballyhoo. Mudgol goes to retrieve his new scrying mirror from Dronn's Arsenal, while Banghorn requisitions some tents, and Badger signs off on a pile of rations and some casks of ale. Ballyhoo takes a breakfast at the Seven Floods Inn, performing for the morning patrons, and then heads to Swyft the Tailor where he is surprised to find a radiant entertainer's outfit of gossamer, white silk and genuine golden thread has been crafted for him by the esteemed clothier...courtesy of Neddyn Starkweather, who recently passed through and paid Swyft a large sum of money. The suit is so radiant that it offends commoners and thrills those of fashion and stature...Ballyhoo promptly donates his old outfit to a passerby. Baro's mission is to speak with Monch Gnarlbottom and find out the progress of Scuff the dwarf's preparations on repairing the keep. The engineer had just recently returned to assemble a caravan of laborers and craftsmen to take on the task of fixing the outer towers and walls, funded by the Last Eidolorn guard and signed off by Hoary.
At any rate, Monch inquires about progress on the head of the Axe of Dwarven Lords, and tells Baro the PCs must be more urgent about retrieving it, that the full relic might be rejoined and the sinister, supposed plot to resurrect the Death Titan Ulan Vhor thwarted. Instead, the two end up making a lunch date at the Seven Floods, where Monch and Attican Vlad offer a loan of 75,000gp for the construction of interior structures for the new Ettenhead. 100,000gp is to be paid back, and the merchants' consortium granted exclusive rights to the sale of weapons, armor and textile/cloths within the completed stronghold's walls. Baro reluctantly signs the documents and accepts the offer, and has the currency routed to Scuff, that the engineer can begin immediately after the external repairs are completed (in presumably a few months of work). The evoker heads back to Armory Square, where Mudgol and the others await, and they at last return to their friends at Ettenhead.
But our heroes who stayed behind haven't been idle. Odd Jon Stuckle brings Ox along for a foraging mission, grabbing lots of roots and vegetables to make a salad, and robin's eggs to smother them with. Odd Jon recounts many emotional tales of his friendship with the fallen Doorjamb Grizzlebeard to the half-orc, who listens attentively, knowing his belly will be filled. The Staff Sergeant acquires something 'extra' for his new friend, a robin itself, which he'll cook for the half-orc's lunch. Gruulsh tries to send Odd Jon off with Bastaro to acquire some fishing gear and do some actual fishing, but the elf Lomi is sent instead. The bugbear, Slasher and Nasriel resume a careful watch on the area, to make sure the mysterious 'Titan of the Glen' doesn't show up to exact vengeance for the fallen giants. When Mudgol and the rest return with the supplies that evening, the tents are set up and one set aside as a 'scrying room' for the diviner's new mirror.
Evelais, Verget the 1st, 838 ID
Before making their next tactical move, they decide to give the mirror a go, unsuccessfully attempting to locate Luorn Stride but then managing to track down the Score's master of disguises, Adder, who is disguised as a seemingly innocent serving girl (same one who jumped Ginkwrench in Halehusk), and about to give Regent Velvedine her 'breakfast'!!!
PCs: Badger, Ballyhoo, Baro, Gruulsh, Mudgol, Ox
NPCs
Bastaro (human male): An elderly, scrawny and decrepit man of at least 70 summers, who is very near blind. Claims to have once been an honest fisherman who, out of desperation, turned to a life of banditry in order to make ends meet. Constantly complains about his ex-wife, comparing the various blurry shapes he sees to her. Wields a fishing night and covers his face with a snotty bandana. Also seems entirely obsessed over his chosen 'brigand' lifestyle, to the point that, even when threatened with violence, he'll carry on about founding a 'Brigand Empire' in Floivin Province. He may have found a willing ear in Badger...
Lomi (elf male): A rather daft but attractive, lithe elf who seems to be related to Nasriel. Hair is tied back in an impressive man...err, elf bun. Has a carefree attitude which can turn dangerous when prompted, and often arrives at some sick ideas, but otherwise goes with the flow. Was assigned with Nasriel and Slasher to serve as interim guardsmen at the Ettenhead keep during its reconstruction. Currently serving as a bodyguard for Bastaro 'the Brigand', who has been sent to fish at Littlewolf and return to Lt. Gruulsh.
Nasriel (elf male): An arrogant, golden haired elf of the Reddenbalm clan, bearing the usual ornate but flimsy army of his family. Has a couple bright earrings in his left ear, and eyes that shift between rust and green. Was on duty in Littlewolf when Ballyhoo, Gruulsh and Ox came back to visit, and was suspicious of the half-orc, but later assigned by his patriarch, Visyo to accompany them to Ettenhead and serve as an interim watchman while they were building the place.
Slasher (elf? female): A hunched, elderly soldier of the Reddenbalm clan guard who is assigned to accompany Nasriel and Lomi to serve as interim watchmen at Ettenhead, with the PCs. Unlike the other two, she actually seems to take the job seriously, eating sparingly of her own rations and remaining deft and vigilant at her post. Appears to communicate with primitive sign language, never really speaks, and covers herself in veils so that her wrinkled face is mostly obscured.
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