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Author Topic: Beneath the Invisible Tower  (Read 17694 times)

Abyssal Maw

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Beneath the Invisible Tower
« on: March 05, 2009, 10:06:38 AM »
Some background:

Your characters start in the remote village of Perreluna, on the outskirts of the Hekat Valley.

Perreluna is known for it's production of herbal medicines, rare teas, and natural dyes. Weavers and Rug-makers also ply their trade here, and every month or so when the mountain trails are clear of snow, a caravan of wagons appears in town and there is a fair.

Not far from Perreluna, on the far side of the stream that runs through the valley, there is a legendary tower that only seems to appear on the nights of the full moon. Few of the townsfolk have approached the tower, and most people feel that it is cursed.

Last year, a large group of foreigners- adventurers calling themselves the League of the Emerald Lotus-- appeared along with the caravan and began asking around about the invisible tower. Then, one morning, they mounted up and rode towards it.

The day after the Emerald Lotus left, there was a great explosion in the valley. The sky darkened, and there was a strange rain of hissing tar-like oil.

Soon afterwards the undead attacks began; orcs and bandits from the worst regions of the Hekat were drawn to the area. Trade caravans have been fewer and less often.

Now a region of unnatural necrotic blight extends for about a mile radius all along the eastern end of the valley. The area is crawling with undead, and various monstrosities that are both unnatural and obscene. The tower itself is no longer invisible; it lies in shattered rubble at the center of the blight.

Mountain shepherds claim the blight is growing.. extending itself. Nobody knows why, and many people would leave Perreluna if it were safe to do so, or the ruin could be investigated to find out what went on there.

Perreluna won't last another winter without your help...
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CavScout
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« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2009, 02:19:23 PM »
The outskirts of Perreluna were finally coming into view. It had been a hard three weeks of walking and riding. It had been twice as many weeks since before the visions of the undead rampaging through some unknown village had begun to fill his dreams.

Before the dreams began, he’d been studying under the weapons master and priest of his father’s keep. Strakir’s father’s plans had been to groom his son for the life of a noble, so as to replace him when his time was done, but Stralor had strayed from the carefully laid plans of his father.

While Stralor had excelled under the tutelage of his father’s weapon masters he had really found purpose with the teaching of the priests of Pelor. It was under their tutelage that he recognized that his destiny was to be more than a warrior and lord, but as a force for good in the land.

It was the visions, in his dreams, of undead creatures in some unknown village that prompted him on this dusty road leading into Perreluna. For weeks, the dreams made no sense. There was not name for the village, no name for the menacing creatures. Just a feeling that somewhere people needed help.  

Four weeks ago, rumors, mostly dismissed as tall tales, had filtered in, with the trade convoys, to his father’s keep about a village near Hekat Valley that was experiencing strange and evil things. When the whispers included the tale of undead ravaging the area, Straki knew had to be the place in his dreams.

There was little time to lose, if one waited to long the village would be unreachable, the passes clogged with snow. With little words to his father, other than this was the will of Pelor and something he had to do, he set out with the next trade caravan.

Over the next several weeks he would ride with caravans on the trails, offering his sword arm for protection and when no caravan was heading in the direction he need he would walk. He was days behind his last caravan and now but with a handful of hours from Perreluna proper.

With one last adjustment of his equipment, he set off to face the source of his visions and to fulfill Pelor's will.
« Last Edit: March 05, 2009, 05:13:37 PM by CavScout »
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DeadUematsu

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Beneath the Invisible Tower
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2009, 04:09:23 PM »
"We're all going to die and worst of all, I have to do it with the lot of you!", Shroom whines incessantly as he hitches a poorly kept peddler's rack onto his back, "If there is a bright side to this, perhaps they'll find me unfitting to eat...oh wait." He then scowls.
 

Abyssal Maw

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Beneath the Invisible Tower
« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2009, 08:36:53 AM »
===============================
OOC:

We have 4! Stralor, Shroom, Fargrim and Ridcully. I have room for up to 2 more, and we will sub in more players if anyone drops out! PLease don't feel like this game is full up. I'll find a spot for you.

===============================

The four of you find yourselves in Perreluna, either having traveled here (like Stralor) or being natives to the village or valley.

So a couple of things:  

The town leader (nominally a chieftain of the local weavers clan) is Malafarn Magippy. He is advised by a trio of elderly women who head up the Dyers, the Gatherers, and the Rug-Artisan Clans.

Malafarn has made it generally known that he is interested in hiring adventurers, and to inquire at the Town Hall. There are posted notices.

There are two taverns: The Grinning Crone and the Poppy Teahouse. The Crone is more like a tavern where ale and lamb is served (although it's getting expensive as food becomes scarce), the Poppy is in a well-decorated cottage and does not serve alcohol (although it does serve teas, coffee, and dainty baked treats). Rooms are available at the Grinning Crone.


There is a temple dedicated to Arloon, the sleeping princess, goddess of dreams, beauty and peace.

There is a shrine dedicated to Momus the Jester. A favorite of fey, rogues, and travelers.

There is a blacksmith where armor and weaponry is forged.

There is a curio-shop called 'Dented Cauldron Antiquities' that may be willing to buy certain treasure or art objects, and also sells jewelery and some low-level (1st-4th) magic items, as well as potions of healing.  

You may discover other locations.


Ridcully with his passive streetwise skill hears a rumor
about lamb being scarce because of orcs raiding the local flock (and a shepherd being murdered).

You can each roll for streetwise if you like or inquire at any of the above locations. DC is 15.
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Abyssal Maw

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« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2009, 08:58:18 AM »
OOC:

Please feel free to introduce and describe your character (as Stralor and Shroom have done already). It is best if you are all together, because it will make my DMing life easier.. but if one guy wants to go off on his own for some investigation or whatever that is fine.
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Sigmund

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Beneath the Invisible Tower
« Reply #5 on: March 06, 2009, 02:55:18 PM »
Looking around with interest, Ridcully absentmindedly patted down his armor and gear, taking inventory of the weapons and tools secreted about his tiny frame.

"Hey! What are you doing in that wagon? Blasted urchins, get out of there!", a burly caraven guard cried. Looking around for the offending child, Ridcully realised the guard might be talking about him. As the guard lumbered after, the small man bolted around the corner of a cottage nearby, calling, "Thanks for the ride." Chuckling to himself, Ridcully watched from under a porch across the street as the guards slowly returned to the recently arrived caravan, shaking their heads.
"Time to get to know the place", the halfling whispered to himself with a smile, and headed for a nearby building with a hideously grinning, horribly ugly woman on a sign over the door.

After a couple of hours and 6 gold coins, Ridcully had pursued the discussion (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1968519/, Streetwise = 8 + 19 = 27 vs. DC of 15) between three sheperds he had overheard talking about the shortage of lamb, and now was heading towards the building his new friends had told him was the town hall, where the tavern keeper had told him the town's leader was looking for help. His coin bag was even lighter and the merchants of the caravan were not yet settled enough after their journey to be suitable donors to his cause.
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Abyssal Maw

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« Reply #6 on: March 06, 2009, 03:20:06 PM »
The passive streetwise check was actually all Ridcully needed to learn about the orc attacks on shepherds in the area. With your active check (27) you find out a little more:

A shepherd tells you that the orc attacks happened in an area to the east of the blight zone along the valley's edge- where it's still safe to graze sheep, supposedly. The orcs were described as wearing red-painted helmets and carrying copper-headed spears and curved swords. They killed a shepherd and his dog and made off with the flock.

Some of the Shepherds are willing to hire adventurers to guard them while they graze their sheep, unfortunately, they can't offer more than 1 gp per day.

When you arrive at the Grinning Crone Ridcully also overhears a conversation between the bartender and a woodsman about an ancient lantern that used to hang over the town gates -- it has recently been stolen. The lantern was rumored to have magical properties, and the villages troubles are believed by some to be related to the missing lantern.  

==================================================

QUEST: Recover the Missing Lantern (worth 200xp)
QUEST: Recover the Lost Sheep (worth 100xp)
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Drohem

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« Reply #7 on: March 06, 2009, 04:00:41 PM »
Fargrim trudged along wearily, but with a steady pace now that the village of Perreluna was within sight.  Even though he had been here many times before, he never really could get used to the first whiff of odor that the production activities of the village gave off.  It made his stomach cringe and burned his nostrils.  Also, every time he saw the wood buildings he wondered to himself how they could live out in the open, so throughly exposed, and in such inferior construction.  Such thoughts usually popped into his head when he approached Perreluna, but were just as usually dispersed when he thought of the fine food and ale, for human fair, that The Grinning Crone served.

He unconsciously picked up his step and pace as he thought of the food, and the smell of cooking fires cut through the slag smell and hit his nose.  Some people turned their heads at seeing a lone dwarf walking down the main street, but quickly turned back to their business at hand since the dwarves of Copperpot Hold were frequent visitors and traders here.  Fargrim made a beeline for The Grinning Crone, and heaping bowl of coney stew and a mug of Luna Ale, which was the premier local brew.

Fargrim was on friendly terms with the innkeeper and staff of The Grinning Crone and was welcomed warmly by the staff and locals inside.  After dusting himself off and greeting everyone, Fargrim sat down at a table and relaxed with his coney stew, fresh bread, and pitcher of Luna Ale.  After the fine and relaxing meal, Fargrim light up a chertwood cigar with the innkeeper and talked about the latest news of the village and its environs.  

(OOC- Fargrim's Streetwise check = 20)

CavScout
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« Reply #8 on: March 06, 2009, 05:28:54 PM »
Taking the last few strides to bring him into town proper, Stralor spied several wagons from a recently arrived caravan and cursed his luck at missing the chance of riding these last few days instead of walking.

His armor, clothing and gear was caked with a dirt and grime from the last few days on the trail and he wanted nothing more than find a real bed and bath. For a few moments he missed the relatively comfortable quarters back at his father’s keep but never wavered from the commitment for his quest.

Walking past the caravan, a commotion to the side caught his attention. A burly guard was after a child who was a bit to curious it seemed. As the child ran for the cover of a nearby home, it occurred to Stralor that it might actually be a Halfling instead and not a nosy human child.

After asking a short portly fellow he encountered where he could find a room, he made his way down the street towards The Grinning Crone. Entering the tavern, Stralor took a quick look around, taking stock of any patrons inside, and looked for someone who worked the place to inquire about room and board.
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DeadUematsu

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« Reply #9 on: March 07, 2009, 04:43:34 AM »
Shroom could only roll his eyes at all the merrymaking his companions (if he has any otherwise he'll do so anyway like a crazy person) were doing for he preferred more quiet activities like leering, eavesdropping, scaring old ladies with his ghastly appearance, and most of all performing errands for no reason other than experience.

He creeps about town after his fellows (again regardless of whether or not he has them), hands waving stupidly, breathing forth his trademark nagging, "My soles are red and blisterly from all of this trailing after the unappreciative lot of you, but nevermind that, though I doubt you would even care but do we have work? I would very much like...I mean...*ahem* PREFER something of either much or too little excitement and absolutely NO braining of my person."
« Last Edit: March 07, 2009, 05:09:12 AM by DeadUematsu »
 

Abyssal Maw

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« Reply #10 on: March 07, 2009, 08:55:00 AM »
At last your group more or less ends up in the same area- the common room of the Grinning Crone. After a while, a few of the other villagers clear out, and now you are mostly the only ones left.

The Bartender explains the goings on of town, and tells about a growing movement to organize a caravan of villagers who want to move out of the valley, hopefully to re-settle on the far side of the mountain.. one smaller group already tried to leave, but got caught by undead, and then chased back to town by orcs, abandoning their wagon. They were led by Gurstim Craw, a local brewmaster.

The bartender then entertains you all with the tale of the stolen lantern, as well as the legend of how it used to protect the village, and how all of the town's troubles might be connected to it's loss.

There's some mention of the price of lamb going up due to the orc attacks as well.

Room and board: 1 electrum crescent per night. (Hekat mints a local electrum coin worth 5 silver pieces)

===================
OOC: You have a number of options to choose from. You can uncover more if you wander around, or decide to do anything else.

Investigate the Blight
Investigate the Invisible Tower ruins
Investigate the missing wagon (Gurstim Craw's group)
Investigate the League of the Emerald Lotus
QUEST: Recover the Missing Lantern (worth 200xp)
QUEST: Recover the Lost Sheep (worth 100xp)

Fargrim also has a special quest, which is to return the wandering dwarven skeletons of the Copperpot Clan to their graves. (worth 160XP)
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DeadUematsu

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« Reply #11 on: March 07, 2009, 12:16:48 PM »
"Let's go find the lantern so to brighten our day - aha, I told a joke!" Shroom looks around the empty room but grumbles as no one is there to laugh.
 

Sigmund

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« Reply #12 on: March 07, 2009, 12:47:01 PM »
After finding the town hall locked up and seemingly empty for the day, Ridcully returns to the Crone and hoists himself up on a chair at an empty table in the corner, sips at an ale, and looks bored.
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Drohem

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« Reply #13 on: March 07, 2009, 01:36:46 PM »
Fargrim looks around the common room of the Grinning Crone and sees quite an odd assortment of non-locals.

These must be adventurers drawn to the area, Fargrim thinks to himself, hmm... we have a human noble or rich merchant's son, but the looks of his gear and clothing.  We have an eladrin wizards by the looks of him, although he is strangely odd and... off.  Finally, there's a halfling.  Maybe a scout?

Fargrim stands up and speaks up after clearing his throat loudly, "my fellow patrons, it is clear to me that you are not local residents of Perreluna.  I mean no offense, but it's clear to anyone with eyes.  Perhaps you are here to investigate the evil that plagues the Hekat valley?  I am here to put an end to this spreading evil.  It threatens my home, Copperpot Hold, and my people.  Recently, the evil has spread to the graves of my ancestors and now their spirits are in torment as roaming undead.  I must put the bodies of my ancestors to rest again and bring peace to their spirits.  However, this will only relief a symptom of the evil that plagues the valley now.  The cause and source of this evil plague must be discovered and eliminated.  I, Fargrim Copperpot, will seek this source and attempt to destroy it permanently.  Would any of you join my cause?"

Sigmund

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« Reply #14 on: March 07, 2009, 09:10:41 PM »
Looking less bored, slightly thoughtful even, Ridcully says, "Ridcully's the name, my friend. I've never seen an undead before, so I'll go with ya. I seek torst* and alagh* myself. Can I buy ya an ale kuldar*?"

=============================================================

* OOC: Dwarven words taken from http://www.delving.com/addword.html and http://forums.gleemax.com/wotc_archive/index.php/t-627099.html
« Last Edit: March 07, 2009, 09:12:54 PM by Sigmund »
- Chris Sigmund

Old Loser

"I'd rather be a killer than a victim."

Quote from: John Morrow;418271
I role-play for the ride, not the destination.