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Post by Daos on May 17, 2022 9:00:18 GMT -8
It's been about a month since the crew of the Dark Squall found themselves accepting a seemingly simple job that wound up transporting them to another world entirely. They've spent the last few weeks sailing along the coast, doing odd jobs here and there, and ducking Blood Sea pirates in the process. After a very close call with some rather nasty Minotaur pirates (that they were just able to escape from), they decided to move toward safer waters. They sailed south, around the Dairy Plains, and then westward toward the Bay of Balifor. They were in the process of sailing past Goodlund, when a terrible storm seemed to form out of nowhere. Unable to avoid it, the Dark Squall had to sail through, and made a beeline straight to land. With luck, the ship outpaced the storm and reached the shore, but not after taking rather extensive damage. It wasn't clear if the ship could make it to the next port, so with no choice, anchor was dropped near the shore, with no towns or settlements in sight. There is, however, a massive forest sprawling out about a hundred feet from the sandy beach. Once the ship is secured, the party disembarks to survey the damage. Harbyn, Kaelestia's brother, shakes his head. "Doesn't look pretty," he says loudly, to be heard over the wailing winds. "Once the storm passes, I can probably fix her enough to limp her into a port town. But full repairs are going to be really pricey," he warns. Glancing back to the forest, he adds, "Might be able to find some shelter in there." =============== It is currently Loot 17th, Rout (by the Goblin calendar), 369 AC. It is Fourth Watch (10 AM) and the weather is clear. (OOC: Casters may choose spells for the day.) |
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Matt4
Paragon
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Post by Matt4 on May 17, 2022 17:55:43 GMT -8
Kaelestia
Hp: 12/12 - AC: 5 Kaelestia marvels at the dark sky above them. Now that they were actually out of immediate danger, she could truly admire the beauty of that storm. The fact that it meant that they could take a break from sailing, and visit that verdurous forest in front of them, also helped it score some more points in Kaelestia's heart. She nods toward her brother: " That sounds like a good plan, shall we go?" - she says with a faint smile, before turning her back on the tumultuous sea. The Irda could already sense the forest's calling. And for some reasons it sounded like a call for help. OOC Actions Prepared Spells: Cure Light Wounds x2, Faerie Fire, Light, Cause Fear
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TristenC
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Posts: 1,877
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Post by TristenC on May 18, 2022 5:32:23 GMT -8
Sha'al slings his pack over Ferd as they get to the beach. He readies his shield and trident, At least we didn't break up in the shallows. Let's see if we can't find a cave or something. Eyes sharp, we don't know what could be out there.
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Any obviously rocky areas on the beach or hilly/mountainous portions visible above the trees? He will figure those might have better chance of having shelter. He will also keep an eye out for game animals or produce/food
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Post by GreyWolfVT on May 18, 2022 8:13:13 GMT -8
Arthogate looking at the wilderness takes a deep breath of the fresh air. "Ah yes good to be in something a bit more familiar."
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Post by Daos on May 18, 2022 8:34:03 GMT -8
Gathering their things, the party, along with Harbyn and Ferd, make their way to the treeline to seek shelter. They find a small, abandoned bear cave not too far from the shoreline (close enough that they can see the ship from there), that they can use to provide shelter from the elements. Once they get a fire going, they sit to discuss their options on where to make port and how they're going to afford the expensive repairs, when they are interrupted by voices coming from deeper in the woods. The voices are high-pitched, like those of children, and they are calling out names, as if searching for someone.
At one point, one of the voices cries out, "I see smoke! Maybe it's them!" A short time later, a male kender comes jogging up to their site, but stops short upon seeing them. He calls out, "Nope, never mind! It's just some Minotaurs, Elves and a Dwarf!" The kender, as is typical of his kind, is wearing an assortment of bright, garish colors and has a number of packs, sacks and pouches on him, and a hoopak slung over his back.
Another kender, this one a woman with blonde pigtails and a green dress with bright pink leggings, comes charging out of the brush at full speed. "Minotaurs? Where? I wanna see!" She hurries over to the other kender's side and gushes at the sight of the party for a bit. "Ooh, is that a sea elf? Do you know any mermaids? How long can you hold your breath?"
"Hey, we should ask them about the kids," the male kender suggests.
"Oh, right! Have you seen any kids wandering around out here?" the female one asks.
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Post by GreyWolfVT on May 18, 2022 10:42:29 GMT -8
Arthogate shakes his head "No haven't seen any kids, so far just you kender."
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TristenC
Elite
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Posts: 1,877
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Post by TristenC on May 18, 2022 10:49:49 GMT -8
Sha'al curses colorfully beneath his breath. Zeboim was truly in one of her moods this day. Gods willing they might survive it...
Sha'al doesn't address the sea-elf related questions, but answers about the child search. We haven't seen anyone except for those of you in front of us now. You had better hurry if you want to find them before that storm hits. he replies, hoping they will move along quickly
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Daos, are we sure there are no creatures/kids hiding in the bear cave with us?
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Post by Daos on May 18, 2022 12:33:05 GMT -8
Sha'al glances around the bear cave, but it's just big enough to contain the party, Ferd and their belongings; there's no way anyone else could be hiding within.
"See, I told you they wouldn't have come this far south!" the female kender says, slapping the male on the arm.
"Wait, this is even better. Look, armed strangers in a multiracial group? They must be 'venturers! They can find those kids easily, I bet!"
"How is that better than actually finding them?" the female kender asks.
Ignoring her, the male kender turns back to the party. "Hullo again! We're from the town of Kendknow, ever heard of it? No? Well, anyway, do any of you have kids of your own? Also no? (Wow, tough crowd.) Well, the reason I ask is see, kids have a tendency to get it in their heads to wander off in the wilderness to destroy Evil, like you do, and then they get bored and hungry and come back home. But a few weeks ago, the kids in our village did just that, except the last part. They never came back. We've been looking throughout the forest for them, but no luck so far. Maybe you brave 'venturers (you are brave venturers, right?) can have better luck? The woods can be kind of dangerous, but you all look like you can take care of yourselves. It'd probably be a snap for you!"
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Matt4
Paragon
Posts: 3,545
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Post by Matt4 on May 18, 2022 15:19:36 GMT -8
Kaelestia
Hp: 12/12 - AC: 5 Even if Kaelestia's exterior appeared calm and relaxed, her inner self was in turmoil. She closed her eyes, thinking of the possible devastation that a group of unbridled kender children could bring to a forest and its inhabitants. She reopened her eyes: " Why were your children searching for evil into these woods? Is there anything particularly dangerous inside of them? If we accept to help you, we will need to learn more about this place."
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Post by Daos on May 18, 2022 16:57:25 GMT -8
The male kender shrugs. "If you were looking for evil to destroy, wouldn't you start in your own neighborhood?" he asks. "As for what sort of evil is in the forest, I dunno. Monsters. I think there are some draconians hiding out in there, leftover from the war."
"And the ghosts!" the female kender adds.
"Oh, right, right, but they only really show up at night, so...," the male agrees.
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Matt4
Paragon
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Post by Matt4 on May 18, 2022 19:14:40 GMT -8
Kaelestia
Hp: 12/12 - AC: 5 " I guess." - Kaelestia answers to the male kender. - " But I was mostly asking to know if there was a particular event that drove your children to go on this crusade." Knowing that were draconians and ghosts hunting the forest made the decision clear for Kaelestia, she had to purify this place.: " In any case, I would be inclined to help you in your request." - she says, before turning to her companions to see what they thought of it.
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TristenC
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Post by TristenC on May 18, 2022 21:00:03 GMT -8
Sha'al glances around the bear cave, but it's just big enough to contain the party, Ferd and their belongings; there's no way anyone else could be hiding within. "See, I told you they wouldn't have come this far south!" the female kender says, slapping the male on the arm. "Wait, this is even better. Look, armed strangers in a multiracial group? They must be 'venturers! They can find those kids easily, I bet!" Sha'al stifles a sigh, the likes of which might resemble the death rattle of one who had expired of simultaneous starvation, exhaustion and just plain lack of will to live. Kaelestia
Hp: 12/12 - AC: 5 Even if Kaelestia's exterior appeared calm and relaxed, her inner self was in turmoil. She closed her eyes, thinking of the possible devastation that a group of unbridled kender children could bring to a forest and its inhabitants. Sha'al feels the tension in the rest of the group KaelestiaShe reopened her eyes: " Why were your children searching for evil into these woods? Is there anything particularly dangerous inside of them? If we accept to help you, we will need to learn more about this place." Gods damn his eyes... he had to have done something truly horrifying in a past life to deserve this... No. he thought, sardonically, to himself. The gods know no justice. Only Punishment. Only power and delight at grinding those below beneath their thumbs... Zeboim wanted someone to suffer, and it seemed today it would be they...Dragon-men... Sha'al mutters flatly. And "ghosts"... he scoffs. The sea-elf opens his mouth to reply again with half-hearted well-wishes of 'luck' in their search for their own wandering offspring when.. His mouth works silently for a few seconds and he stares at Kaele as if poleaxed. A dozen rebuttals begin to formulate in his mind, all clamoring for first leave but the only word that manages to escape is a plea to the rest of the group for some scrape of sanity in this increasingly maddening world... Vote...?![/i] |
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Post by HorizonsDream on May 19, 2022 1:52:12 GMT -8
Sumina was juat now starting to forget their encounter with Twill, and just the sound of kender voices was giving her a headache. "You know," she finally speaks up. "This could be dangerous, so what are you offering to help you find your kids," she asks.
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Post by GreyWolfVT on May 19, 2022 3:55:08 GMT -8
Arthogate asks the Kender "What are the kids names? If we are going looking for them we should know their names."
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Post by Daos on May 19, 2022 11:40:57 GMT -8
"But I was mostly asking to know if there was a particular event that drove your children to go on this crusade." "Oh, you know how it is," says the male kender. "Kids get together and start talking. They talk about how it's strange there's so much Evil in the world, and why nobody has just gone out and defeated it already. Just seems logical. So you gather your friends up and go out into the wilderness to find Evil and defeat it. We all did it as kids." "But the difference is," adds the female kender, "is we all came home later that day when we got hungry. But kids these days are too clever. They were smart enough to borrow some food first before heading out." "This could be dangerous, so what are you offering to help you find your kids," she asks. "Offer?" the male kender asks, puzzled. The female's eyes light up in understanding. "Ohhh, like a reward! You know, in the stories, the brave heroes are always given a reward at the end." "Oh, right!" The male starts digging through his various pouches. "Let's see, well, there's my button collection. I have so many shiny buttons; this one is made of brass, and this one is bright blue, and this one..." "I think they want something valuable," the female interjects. The male gasps dramatically at her at the implication that his buttons are not valuable. "I mean valuable to them. Like coins or gems," she clarifies. "Well...there is my gemstone collection," the male says. "I keep them in a sack back home. It's as big as my head, so it's too heavy to carry around. I guess I could give you that. I can run back home to get it. When you find the kids, bring them back here, and we can make the trade then." Harbyn says quietly, as an aside, "A big sack of gems could pay for the repairs we need. I can stay here and work on the preliminary repairs once the storm passes, and the rest of you can go gather up these kids, and then we use the gems to pay for the rest at port. It's just a bunch of kids, how hard can it be?" "What are the kids names? If we are going looking for them we should know their names." "Oh, like...all of them? I can't remember all thirty of their names," the female kender says. "But their leader is Hudan Stonethrower," the male kender adds. "He's a clever one. Probably was his idea to stock up on food before they left." |
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