Gameplay Date 10-28-07
Players present: Mordek, Taneus, Brynn
Nerom - the aftermath
Morning came too early as far as I was concerned. Rolling out of bed, I began getting dressed. After putting on my armor, I started reaching for my weapon belts, then remembered something... I had Aglim's rather nice looking belt in my pack. Pulling it out, I gave it a once over... heavy duty, thick leather, double width, 2 buckle closure, seemed nice and sturdy... but would it fit? Wrapping it around my waist and over the armor, it was gonna be a little snug, but I managed to hitch the last notch on the belts... might have to lay off the mutton for a while. I gave a few twists and bends to see how it moved given it's double width... comfortable enough... so I took it off again and started transferring my weapons, scabbards & pouches from my old belts to this new one, then put it around my waist again. Next I grabbed the knife sash I had gotten off of that Greyfinger. In the thick of things last night, I had just thrown it over one arm and around my neck. It had been a little tight as well, but now I had more time to adjust it's straps to fit better. The normal buckle closure wasn't going to fit comfortably around my larger chest, so I pulled out some leather cords and created a couple of tie straps to cover the extra distance. I drew out one of the identical looking daggers to gauge their heft, balance and sharpness... not bad... well balanced for throwing... good edge to them. Doing a quick count, I had 20 of the 25 knives that the sash could hold. The others had been left on the ground where we had faced off and are probably long gone... unless... maybe Vidgath had collected them last night. Might be worth stopping by his shop later to find out... besides, I needed to swing by Zelnus's place anyway to purchase that warhammer he'd reserved for me. Scooping them up, I put my old belts into my pack, then went to put that on... odd?!?... feels lighter than it should... did I lose something out of it? Putting my pack down on the bed, I started going through the contents, making sure that everything was accounted for... nothing's missing... hhmmm! Maybe those ales from last night haven't quite worn off yet.
As I came downstairs, I spotted Taneus & Brynn already at a table with that woman who had accompanied the man that Malward the Mad had killed in front of everyone. I went up to the bar and ordered some breakfast and an ale from Kaela, who only handed it over as long as I promised not to pour it on the floor again. I nodded sheepishly and took my ale over to join the others. Taneus introduced me to Kiri as I took a seat. Then, as we all ate some breakfast, we filled each other in on what we each had gotten up to last night. Sounds like they had taken the Tome of Helgar to the Temple of Pelor, found Gohla and got him and a few others to go with them to the High Temple. While there, he read from the Tome, and from what they described... removed Nerom from the sight of the Gods... all of them... and thus made all religions balanced in Nerom. And then everything went to hell!! The priests & clerics of Pelor decided that without the power of Erythnul backing them up, now was a good time to storm the Scarlet Jester to rescue their captive brother. Taneus & Brynn went along with them to help, but Brynn got jumped by Aglim as they were leaving the High Temple... that's about when I had seen her fighting him and gone to help her. The Temples of Hextor & Heironeus had each started marching on the Scarlet Jester and Temple of Erythnul. The Greyfingers made a break for it, but started a fire to the Jester before leaving. Taneus and a few others went inside the Scarlet Jester to rescue the missing cleric, and also found Kiri in the process. But before they could leave, they were attacked by a succubus, who had transformed from the woman who ran the place.
Outside, DeGaren had his back up against the flaming building of the Scarlet Jester as Brynn and her wolf arrived, repeatedly attacking him, even scorching him with a little fire of her own. When he saw the 2 groups from the Temples of Hextor & Heironeus closing in, he began stalking his way toward the cliff. Brynn stayed on his tail, pounding him again & again with her quarterstaff, but when he got to the cliff's edge, he just stepped off and was carried by a sudden wind right to the deck of one of the ships out in the harbor. He had turned and looked back up at her with a look of foreboding menace as they severed the mooring ropes and began readying the ship to depart. Around that time is when the skies opened up and everyone sought whatever shelter they could. Taneus said that the clerics described it like the Gods came together, saying "How dare you mortals presume to dictate to us!" and they let loose the heavens upon us. Sounds like Nerom is under a very watchful eye again. Everyone had gone back to the Grove after that, where we all met up again.
After that, we started discussing what we were going to do next. The Crimsons Spears had been wiped out here in Nerom, so Brynn was open to suggestions. Taneus didn't really have any pressing concerns. Kiri, healing well from her imprisonment, even asked if she could accompany us, given that her reasons for being here had been taken care of. In the end we decided to make our way back to Tyrell, but make a stop in Bumfor first, to let me explain the cryptic note I had sent to the Grand Temple. Luvana was going to be staying to continue her studies, so we'd have to swing by to say goodbye to her. We were also going to have to get some supplies too. Taneus suggested that maybe I should swing by a temple and get my Wererat problem cured. At which Brynn snickered, "ahh... you've got a tail and whiskers under all that hair!"
We paid Kaela for our breakfasts, then started heading through town toward Corna's General Store. Vidgath's was nearby, so I told the others that I'd catch up with them in a bit, and made my way toward his door. He greeted me as I came in and asked what he could do for me. Pulling one of the knives from the sash, I showed it to him, asking if he came across any that looked like it last night as he was cleaning up the battlefield, as I pointed at the empty slots of the sash. He said I was in luck... that he had found 4... and that they could be mine again for a gold piece each. I told him it was a deal, but that I wasn't done. I was also eyeing a short sword, and reached out to grab it. Pulling it from it's scabbard, I gave it a couple of swings to feel it's weight and balance. It still had a decent edge, though the whole thing had obviously seen some use. I asked how much and Vidgath said "7 gold." I pulled out enough coin to pay him for the items and thanked him as I went back outside, putting the knives into the sash and tucking the short sword in my belt.
Zelnus's Armory was right next to Corna's shop, so I went there next. He asked if I was here for that warhammer he was holding for me. I said I was... and more. I put the polished warhammer back onto his counter and pulled the morningstar, the one with the agate, out for his inspection. He ended up agreeing to take back the polished hammer, the gold I had given him to reserve the other one, and the morningstar as an even trade. He took my weapons off of his counter and presented me with one, very sturdy, very finely crafted warhammer that was quite obviously the work of a master craftsman. Oh, you are a thing of beauty... aren't you! Then I asked him about armor, and what he might have that would fit a dwarf. He points toward a suit of half plate on one shelf, a suit of dwarven plate on another, and a suit of studded leather behind the counter. Neither of the suits of plate armor interested me, as I want to remain quick on my feet, so I asked him how much he wanted for the studded leather... 200 gold pieces he said. I asked if he'd be interested in taking my well used leather armor in trade, and he said he'd give me a credit of 10 gold for it. Then I reached into my pack and produced Aglim's heavy, blunt, well decorated morningstar. Giving it to him for inspection, he offered another 112 gold of credit. Pulling out another 78 gold pieces to cover the remainder, we had a deal. I started shucking my old armor and putting on the new, marveling at the master craftsmanship of it as well. Thanking him as I left, I went next door to Corna's shop to rejoin the others.
As I entered the general store, Taneus, Brynn and Kiri had already amassed quite a pile of gear for the road. Taneus had even started a pile of things he knew I would be needing... basically everything that we had lost when the 2 ogres attacked us and we had to leave it behind. We only had one horse for the 4 of us, so we were going to be walking to Bumfor this time, and using the horse as a pack animal. We paid Corna for her goods, then hiked everything back to our rooms at the Stone's Throw Inn. We had a few other things to attend to before we could leave town. Taneus said he needed to see Miranda, the woman who had barricaded herself in the basement of the High Temple, so we started heading that way to find her. As we neared the HIgh Temple, we could see that there was a gathering of people outside... it looked like a lot of the head priests and clerics along with their entourages. Several of the prominent shopkeepers and townspeople were there as well... and all of them seemed to stop and turn to look at us as we drew near. Oh... this can't be good! As it turned out... it wasn't bad either. They said they understood what we did and why and that they weren't going to blame us for recent events... but nor were they going to celebrate us either. They said there was going to have to be some restructuring done for the city to govern itself better and then they went back to their discussions. Luvana was here, near the edge of the group, so we went over to speak with her for a moment. We told her how we planned on leaving town soon, and asked if she was going to be alright on her own now. She said she would, that her studies were keeping her well occupied, and that Cornelius was still going to be around for a while yet, so she wouldn't be completely without friends. Taneus managed to get the attention of one of the many priests of Pelor and motioned him over to join us. He asked what we wanted and Taneus told him about my lycanthropy condition and asked if there was anything that the benevolence of Pelor could do to cure it. The priest looked me over as he seemed to be thinking about it. He said that Pelor could certainly heal me of my affliction, but it was not something that they were normally prepared for and that it would have to wait until tomorrow morning. We told him that we would be swinging by the temple in the morning before we got on the road for Bumfor. The priest nodded, saying that he would have things ready for us, then went back to listening to what the group was discussing. We gave Luvana a hug goodbye in case we didn't see her before we left, then we maneuvered our way around the group so we could enter the High Temple.
Taneus led the way down to the basement level and to the doors of Miranda's library, which are no longer protected by magic. Going inside, Miranda welcomed Taneus back as he introduced the rest of us to her. Taneus said he'd had to use his magic to turn himself into a gaseous cloud and slip through the cracks around the door frame. That Miranda had been the one to tell him about the Tome of Helgar and where he might be able to find it. Miranda was also a spellcaster and Taneus had previously asked if she was able to identify magical items. She had told him that it required a pearl worth more than 100 gold pieces, a drink of wine and an owl feather for each casting of the spell. He rummaged around in his pack and produced several of each of the items that she had asked for, having gathered them since his last visit. Taneus pulled out a horn from his pack... not sure where he got that... then turned to Brynn and asked for the hummingbird medallion... then he turned to me and asked for the belt I was wearing. I asked why and he said that earlier, he had cast a detect magic spell to see if any of the new items we had acquired had magical auras to them, and that the belt I had taken off of Aglim had radiated as such. He already knew that the medallion was magical from a previous casting of the spell, he just didn't know what it did. Brynn turned to him saying "I thought you said it was enchanted with luck?!?" Taneus just gave her an odd smirk as she scowled back at him. Miranda took the items and laid them out before her. She started grinding up a pearl into a pile of powder, which she then poured into a goblet of wine, and used an owl feather to stir the concoction together. I think it was about an hour later, when she said it was ready, and turned to the first item... the horn. She said that it was a Horn of Fog... that whenever it was blown, a thick cloud of obscuring mist would come forth from the horn and quickly fill the space around you. Useful to help hide or make a getaway, but not very quiet. Taneus took the horn back and put it back into his pack. Then Miranda started grinding up a second pearl... oh, good lord, it's gonna be 2 more hours before we're done here... wake me up when it's over!!! I made my way over to a chair, took a seat, crossed my arms, and let my head droop down to my chest. I told Taneus to wake me if my snoring was gonna disrupt what they were doing, then closed my eyes and took a little nap.
Two hours later, we had all three items identified. In addition to the horn, the medallion was enchanted to enhance the dexterity of whoever was wearing it while the belt did the same for the wearer's strength... no wonder my pack felt lighter, and why Aglim's blows hit as hard as they did. Brynn slipped the medallion back around her neck as I put the belt around my waist again. Taneus thanked Miranda profusely, as did we all, then, bidding her well, we made our way back outside. Since all of our errands had been taken care of AND we couldn't depart until the morning AND there wasn't anyone or anything actively seeking to kill us at the moment, we decided to relax for the rest of the day. Taneus led the way towards another building in town... The Monk's Wagon Inn... saying that he was buying the first round... woo hoo!! As we entered, the first thing that was easy to spot was the more upscale decor than that at the Stone's Throw Inn... aww man, you mean I gotta drink nicely in here lest I spill on their fancy dancy rugs?!? We should head to the Stone's Throw where we can really party! I was about to suggest that, when Taneus was greeted by the server and asked if he would like another bottle of elven wine. He said yes, with three glasses, and a tankard of Dwarf Spirits, as he indicated me. Oh-ho! Dwarf Spirits, now we're talking. Sorry Kaela, but since you don't have Dwarf Spirits on tap at your place, it looks like we'll be staying here for a while!
We ordered some dinner as the drinks went by one after another and I was feeling really good... looking around, I thought we needed a few more dwarves in here to get some good songs going. The elves were drinking their wine more slowly... something about... hic... letting it breathe... hic. Ah, they just don't know how to cut loose and celebrate... somebody needs to pull that stick out of their arses. A server came over to the table and I asked him for another round, this one on me... "Mordek, it's me... Corny!" Squinting at the server, I was amazed how much he looked like this kid I know. "Hey kid, join us for a drink... our server was just here... now where did he... hic... get to?" The kid shook his head as he gave a soft chuckle and took a seat at our table. Another server came by and I asked for another round, including a tankard of Dwarf Spirits for the kid. When it arrived, he couldn't quite stomach it, so I took it off his hands. Corny had a glass of the elven wine instead, chugging it down, trying to keep pace with me... much to the astonishment of Taneus, Brynn & Kiri. After a few more rounds, the kid was a little drunk... I could tell by the way he wazzz sslurrring hiz wordzzz. He was complaining a bit about his nose, how one of the Greyfingers had gotten in a good punch last night and broken it, but with all the other, more serious injuries being attended to, he figured his nose could wait. He asked how it looked, as to him it felt crooked. I leaned in for a closer look... sure enough... his nose was bent sideways... so I reached over, took hold of his nose and straightened it for him. He gave a short gasp and suddenly passed out... guess the kid's had enough. I told Taneus that I'd take him back to the Stone's Throw Inn so he could sleep it off, and got to my feet as Taneus dubiously asked "are you sure?" Throwing down a handful of gold coins to help cover our bill, they all had another incredulous look on their faces as I hoisted the kid over one shoulder, regained my balance and replied "yep... I'll be right back! I believe it's Brynn's turn for the next round." Grabbing my tankard, I started heading for the door with Cornelius. The cool evening air felt good as I carried the kid across town. I reached the Stone's Throw Inn to find another large crowd in here, enjoying their own dinners and drinks, though the revelry was still a bit subdued. I took the kid up to the room I had gotten and put him down on the bed, then went back outside. Turning left, I started to make my way back to the other Inn only to find myself tripping over the stakes & string I had put out to mark the edges of my fake temple. The sudden shock to my equilibrium, combined with my current level of inebriation, caused me to pass out right there on the ground.
To be continued...
