More Progress

Progress Report Continued

Still in Armagada (In the town of Two Rivers)

Talking to Tinker

Tinker requests that Carlton is sent for, and when the adventurers are all together she begins to talk. At first she asks questions, finding out about the party. Then she tells a little about herself and asks the party to investigate The Devastation for her.

She offers to pay, but does not know what the party would want as payment for the task. The party discuss their needs, and agree on a fee that involves little outlay for the small friendly Golan. They want information and some weapons for themselves.

She was a little thrilled to find the party showed interest in her knowledge of Bright-Iron, Slave-Iron and Rock-Iron. Any question even remotely related to her first and strongest Jist met with an enthusiastic response. Though she has spoken to several dwarves about them over the years, the dwarves always seem far more interested in improving Rust-Iron and Gold than her favourite metals.

Astra, unwilling to interrupt and unable to get all his many questions out, writes them down, and hands the written questions to Tinker. His questions are written in Elven script, but this seems not to phase Tinker, who quickly scribbles her answers, seemingly delighted.

Questions, questions

Her answers to Astras questions sparked more questions, and a barrage of rapid-fire questions from the assembled party members led to lots of new information. Rowanfury managed to steer very close to the wind with his questions, and finally managed to make the poor young Golan cry. She held on to Korath for comfort, which left him feeling a little unsure of what to do. Having recently given some city-watch members a lesson in falling down with the help of a fist, he now had to comfort a diminutive winged female without "Breaking it".

Eventually, Astra was given a huge compliment, by her referring to him as a "word-jist", for his skillful manipulation of her "I don't exist" claim. She finally told them she was going to have to tell the truth. The party then learned of the deceit the Golan had used 700 years ago, in order to convince the remaining humans and Darfellan that they had left. They learned that there were in fact quite a few Golan hidden away in "long hibernation" in a disused dwarf mine, and that in all probability there were dwarves who understood that there were still Golan alive in their old mine.

Finally, a decision was taken about which quests to do in which order, and which routes the party would take. - Off to Skybridge.

Skybridge

An uneventful journey accompanied by Martin Martinssohn, the fish merchant as far as the Port Harker turnoff, then on towards Skybridge. Once the party was effectively alone, Tinker was able to show herself, and even took to travelling in Korath's backpack when there were other people who she needed to hide from.

She proudly shows the party her greatest Golan-made building, The Skybridge itself. A large suspension bridge, built of petrified wood and Bright-Iron. It glints in the sunlight, the sparkling stainless steel metalwork reflecting the sunlight like a mirror even after the 700 years it has stood so far. The massive pillars of petrified wood covered in pictograms telling the story of the eruption of the volcano that destroyed Malindra, the Golan city that once stood here. Images of the various races adorn the surfaces, showing a co-operative effort to rebuild the civilisation destroyed in the blast.

That evening, Tinker persuades the majority of the party to create a diversion for her by creating noise on the Island end of the bridge, while she replaces the Slave-Iron rivet that forms one of the sacrificial anodes that protect the bridge from the elements.

The Island of Skybridge is home to a small colony of Human and Darfellan fishermen and traders. The lush vegetation making the place seem like a small tropical paradise. Crude Darfellan shacks and slightly more robust Human houses dot the island, the Darfellans almost holding a monopoly on shoreline sites, and the humans living slightly further inland.

A small collection of dwellings, shops and workshops clustered close to the bridge might almost form a town, if the informal cluster warranted such a title. The party members creating the diversion do so by borrowing some drums and holding a makeshift music festival. A noisy celebration that lasts long into the night, even after the task of changing the rivet is done.

Tamuril, returning to the party is asked by a Darfellan what the celebration is all about, and bluffs her way through by telling him it is an Eludulim celebration from her home in Eludil. The Darfellan's throwaway comment that he thought Eludil was destroyed in the devastation leaves the elf perplexed.

The morning after the night before.

The makeshift music festival somehow leaves the party members feeling slightly worse fo wear. Almost as though they had been partying all night. Strange that!

The next day, they explore the island of Skybridge. Rowanfury goes off to explore the island on his own, taking the opportunity to get some exercise. He attempts to do a circuit of the island, finding out that this is not actually possible, due to the geography and topography of the place. He does, however stumble across the home of Soven Elgin but manages to avoid meeting the elderly human himself, he does manage to get his tail pulled by a small human boy though. This seems to irritate the centaur a little.

Returning from the far end of the island, he sees Tamuril, Astra, and Carlton, walking in the direction of the place he has just come from. The trio has just established that they should seek out Soven Elgin and Heerickkif they wish to hire a boat to travel North as they asked.

Soven seems perfectly amicable, and asks his friend and fellow elder, Heerickk the Darfellan, to deal with their request. When asked how much it would cost, the elderly human seems to have some difficulty with the concept. Asked if there is anything the party can do to assist, he tells them that the "Jist" can always use their help, and does say it might be useful to make provision for those who are to travel with them. (Not wanting to appear thick, they do not ask what he means by this, and simply decide to find out some other way.)

Heerick sends one of the young boys off while they are talking, and they see him on their way past the "harbour" watching ten darfellan picking a large boat out of the water.

Several other party members are already at the "Jist", sitting in with the children, watching and learning. The children learn their own languages, and that of the other race (Human and Darfellan), but also learn a language they claim is Golan. Tinker, hidden in the backpack of Korath, explains that though this is not in fact Golan, it appears to have been based on Golan. It has changed beyond recognition in the intervening years.

The party decide to teach the children what they know of the history of Skybridge, leaving out the existence of Tinker and any other surviving "Old Ones". The following day, they present a wonderful show to the children, using magic to simulate in miniature, the eruption of the volcano.

The children enjoy the show, and are inspired by the story as told to them by Woodstrike, and illustrated by Astra. Tamuril tells them something about the party and the lands across the mountains, and Korath does a few tricks, like knocking down a tree, disappearing, reappearing as a big copy of Astra, and then once more as himself. Astra demonstrates a few magical things, making several copies of himself appear and making what to the children is a huge fireball in the sky.

Finally, the party donates 400 gold pieces to the families of those who are to sail with them, and they depart in two modified frail looking fishing craft. One much larger than the other, altered to suit the Centaur who might fall straight through the hide hull of the craft before it was modified.

A sea Cruise.

The party leave in the boats provided, and with 26 Darfellan swimmers pulling them out into the open ocean, one darfellan remains on each of the two ultra lightweight boats made of scraped animal skins stretched tightly across wood and bone ribs. The darfellan swim while pulling the boats behind them, then some return to the boats, and take up oars, still others unfurl square-rigged sails from a single mast on each boat.

After several hours one of the darfellan and two of the party spot a sharkfin in the water, then a darfellan leaps out of the water into the smaller boat, badly injured. The cry goes up. Sahaugin! Hated enemy of the darfellan. The darfellan return to the boats only long enough to take spears, harpoons and the occasional sword or knife and return to the water to begin their defence. Tamuril takes up a position ready to stab any Sahaugin that comes within reach of her blade.

The two spellcasters, co-operating with the darfellan leader, cause the terrifying sound of a huge predator, hoping to scare off the attackers. Little do they know, but this has unnerved the attackers, giving the defenders an advantage for several rounds.

The fight goes on largely under water, out of sight of the watching PCs. The injured darfellan is healed by Rowanfury, and leaps back into the sea to fight. The Leader of the darfellan asks Carlton to take charge of the boats and joins the fray below the waves, having been Blurred by Astra. Rowanfury leaps from the boat to save the lifeless body of a darfellan who floats to the surface, swimming bravely out to heal the fighter before he is completely lost.

The wizard, Astra, and the Sorcerer, Woodstrike, both use spells to help in the fight, and Carlton narrowly avoids a sword thrust upwards at his shadow through the thin hull. Then the same sword-wielding Sahaugin, a four-armed mutant, and leader of their patrol, leaps into the boat to take the fight to the surface, only to be cut down by a quick acting Tamuril. The surprised beast, though mortally wounded, strikes back at her, wounding the elf fighter, but causing its own demise.

One of the two sharks is wounded by both the spellcasters, and is then mercilessly butchered by a darfellan who had been given Bull's Strength earlier. The darfellan leader, now practically invisible under water, is able to confuse the senses of the Sahaugin, and his now super-strong comrade begin to wreak havok amongst the remaining attackers. The tide has turned, and the Sahaugin are on the run. The jubilant Darfellan are ready to celebrate.

Rowanfury, unable to re-enter the boat without damaging the hull helps the darfellan tow the boats to shore, where a camp is made and the upturned hulls used as shelters. A fire is lit, and there is shark steaks for supper.

Albatross, is that familiar?

Being now somewhat enamoured of his own successes the previous day, Woodstrike decides it is time he acquired a familiar. What better place to do so than out on the open ocean. He wants a bird. A hawk maybe, or a raven, perhaps an owl. Choosing what seems like a friendly looking bird, he successfully adopts an Albatross.

Our Sorcerer now has a huge seabird as a familiar. The 10 foot wingspan, and the inability to land or take off easily do not daunt the young spellcaster, who amuses Rowanfury and Tamuril by requesting their help making a crossbow-based Albatross launching device.

Port Harker

After two more days, this time uneventful, the tiny ragtag fleet arrives at the entrance to Port Harker. Where they arrange to meet Yjiree, the local darfellan leader. While waiting for him to arrive, Korath and Ammelath notice they are being watched by a young half-elf priest of Corellon, who seems to be paying a great deal of attention to Rowanfury.

Korath waves at the young cleric, who promptly moves away into the crowd on the quayside. Ammelath agrees to follow him, which she does with little difficulty. The young priest is no match for the rogue. He is followed past the temple to a large building high above the town. Where he disappears inside, only to reappear, followed by an old gnome. The cleric returns to the temple, but the gnome carries on past, heading for the quayside.

Ammelath enquires within the temple, asking if they know the whereabouts of a Centaur Cleric. The inquisitive reply from a senior cleric asks more about her, and her knowledge of the centaur, she decides that discretion might be in order, and leaves quickly. The young cleric she saw previously is sent to follow her. She confronts him, and takes him openly with her to the quayside.

At the quayside Rowanfury is being interrogated by a Gnome, who despite only being knee high to the centaur, is being abrupt, aggressive, pompous and officious. The gnome has a strange mannerism. Whenever he speaks, he always adds a two word comment on his own question or statement if the question or statement itself cannot be framed in a two word format. He will always Use a "Q", or occasionally a "Q" sounding word, followed by an "S", or an "S" sounding word.

His opening demand is: "What news of Nossevoronwe? Quickly, Speak."
Followed by:
"You wear her symbol! Querying Somewhat."
"You know of Nossevoronwe? Questing Specifics."
"Does she live? Questioning Speculatively."
"Explain yourself. Quizzically Sceptical."

Rowanfury seems nonplussed by the abrasive character at first, but soon comes to understand the nature of the questions.

It would seem that the Holy Symbol that Tamuril purchased for him from the Halfling shop in the pass was the symbol in question. They explain the circumstances, and tactfully point out that this probably means that Nossevoronwe has been killed by bandits who raid travellers through the pass. The party soon adopt the gnome's strange manner of speech, and begin to find ways to fit Quality Syllables into their conversation.

The Gnome spots the Librarian symbol on the pommel of Carlton's sword, and the broach at Astra's throat at about the same time as they spot his. He suggests that the accompany him to the Library, where Rowanfury may learn more of Nossevoronwe, and he might learn more of the other side of the mountains from Astra and Carlton.

We learn that Nosseveronwe was a female half-elven cleric of Corellon, and that the symbol Rowanfury now carries belonged to her. The symbol, found in the halfling owned trading emporium and presented to him by Tamuril turns out to have been a powerful artifact in its own right. It is obvious to the party that Nosseveronwe fell foul of the bandits and is almost certainly now dead.

Korath manages to talk himself into fighting in the Local 'Fighting Pit', a gambling den which bets on the outcome of fights to the death between Darfellan barbarians. It seems the local Darfellan contact has his own 'stable' and was willing to allow Korath to fight one.

Korath wins, but Rowanfury brings the Darfellan back from the brink. Much to the Darfellan's disgust. Korath is persuaded to train the darfellan and takes him on as a pupil. Rowanfury now has a less than friendly Darfellan, who is reluctantly grateful for the healing he gets while Korath 'Teaches' him in the only way he knows. The party finds themselves slightly less popular, but much wealthier due to well placed bets on their friend.

Rowanfury talks himself into giving a memorial service for Nosseveronwe, which in itself goes well. It is after the service that things begin to come unravelled. The 'Bishop' of the church is less than impressed to learn that the centaur never actually met Nosseveronwe despite the assumption that he had done. The centaur manages to persuade the bishop that his fault was one of omission, not expressly saying he had not met her, as he never actually claimed he had done. Merely that she had influenced him.

The rest of his own party is much less impressed by the clerics officious and abrasive remarks. He makes matters worse by insulting the faith of at least two elves in the party. The two are indeed followers of his own deity, Corellon, but they hold their faiths close and private. Luthien is argumentative, and annoyed: Tamuril insensed.

He spends some time with Tamuril's sword at his throat, some time coming quite close to an apology, and some time nursing a black eye, donated by the Darfellan Skreech, who decided the cleric should really listen more closely to the party's ideas on the subject of Corellon and the worship of that deity. Rowanfury appears somewhat chastised. Will it last?

Ammelath in the meantime was doing roguish things in the local markets. Surprisingly, she actually paid for the only things she came away with. If you don't count a few coppers that became detatched from their owners purses.

Leaving Port Harker Behind

With a last apology to the Bishop of Corellon in Port Harker from Rowanfury, the party finally board their two Darfellan craft and set off once more for the North, and the land of Neige. Being somewhat aware of the Sahaugin danger, the crew wisely keeps a close watch on the sea around them. No Sahaugin threat is seen all day, and eventually the Darfellan propose going ashore for the night. The non-Darfellan party members stand watch in their established watch pattern, always two awake and one changeover at a time to ensure there is always one fully awake party member with dark-accustomed eyes.

At around two in the morning, as Tamuril is being replaced by Carlton, with Woodstrike still on watch, Tamuril notices a strange glow in the water. She assumes that it is Woodstrike playing with his spells as is his habit, but he denies responsibility. Tamuril, still suspicious wakes Astra, for a second opinion. The half-elf wizard, with his book-learning recognises the glow of marine organisms caused by disturbance in the water and tells her it is a natural phenomenon. She is placated, and Astra returns to his rest.

Woodstrike hears non of the explanation and decides to get a better look. Seeing the glow 50 feet from shore he decides to get a better look, and casts light over the glow. Instantly, he illuminates five Sahaugin, quietly swimming towards the shore. Woodstrike panics, raising the alarm.

The party is soon awake, all except Astra, who feels safer under the upturned boats where the darfellan were sleeping. A short but bloody fight ensues, as the party slaughter the Sahaugin with little more than a couple of flesh wounds in exchange.The darfellan are impressed, and enjoy the spectacle as well as the feast afterwards on roasted Sahaugin flesh.

The next day and night pass uneventfully, (Having exhausted the random encounter allocation.)

Just before mid day a small trading ship was seen crossing the course, from east to west, into a previously unnoticed port. The decision was taken to follow the ship into the port. While they were entering the port, some noticed that the ship appeared to be crewed by goblins.

A word with the harbourmaster revealed that this was not now an unexpected occurance. Times it seems had changed, and goblins were now an accepted trading race. A walk through the city revealed that not everyone was entirely happy with the new state of affairs vis-a-vis goblins. At 'The Sea Horse', a tavern on the waterfront, a half-ogre doorman/bouncer was on hand to ensure that any passing goblins realised that this particular establishment was off-limits.

The party are on their way to view the fascinating ruins of a fortress they saw overlooking the entrance high above the southern extremity on their way in to the port. Thousands of miles from the start of their journey, the intrepid adventuring party become - tourists.

Mischief

The party just can't leave well alone. They decide, for reasons only known to them, to light a big fire at the ruins. (A long established and traditional, though recently unused, signal to alert the city to a pending invasion from the sea.) Quickly spotted, the ciry guard send a squad to investigate. Luckily, in a fit of inspired understanding, it is realised that they have just caused trouble. They take the opportunity to cause mayhem where there was only panic before.

They already have a gang of street-kids hanging about waiting for the next installment of free money. They blame the fire on the kids, and claim that there was a goblin that put them up to the deed. Korath 'becomes a goblin' running off, leading the guard squad a merry chase to the city walls. Escaping by simply taking gaseous form while unobserved, the goblin tracks simply disappear, leaving the squad searching for their prey.

The party talk to the leader of the squad, and learn that goblins are not well loved by everyone, and that they should return to the Inn where they have sequestered the darfellan. He will meet them later when he is off duty.

Later, after a small amount of disturbance in the inn, they meet the guard, and he suggests they stay on as they might be interested to meet some people who might be at the inn later. Korath manages to make friends with the half-ogre doorman, and the party sees a Satyr who comes into the inn, speaks with the doorman and leaves without entering further or interacting with anyone else.

Later still, the Satyr returns, looks around the inn to observe who is present, and once more leaves. Then in walks two elves, then a centaur and what appears to be a human female ranger. They walk to the bar, and spend a while as simple customers at the bar. The party, especially Rowanfury, who is astounded to see another centaur, attempt to draw the newcomers into conversation. They seem to be unable to get through to the human ranger, as the elves and centaur always appear to come between them and her.

Finally, she says "It is time." and the inn becomes a mass of people, moving to different places. Everyone except the haplees party members seems to know what is happening. A space magically clears in the inglnook, and The ranger takes her place, flanked by the centaur and the elves. The rest of the patrons become an audience.

Plotting Regicide

The party soon discover that the Queen of Niege, to whom their original Cuerno Verde quest ties them, is an imposter. The rightful queen is in hiding and that 'the resistance' has been biding its time trying to find a way of returning Queen Jennifer to her throne and overthrowing the goblin-supported imposter "Blanche de Niege".

The shrinking violets of the party cannot resist the chance to plot regicide. Taking a huge risk, they split the party. Korath, Carlton and Ammelath go to the city of Niege to survey the situation and gain as much knowlege as possible of the internal workings of the goblin army and the new royal household. Korath disguising himself as a goblin, Carlton assuming the role of mercenary-adventurer-for-hire, and Ammelath, using her skills and 'assets' infiltrates the supply chain by insinuating herself into the position of 'assistant' to a well known wine merchant.

Meantime, Rowanfury 'trots off' back to Cuidad Verde to try to rustle up support from Sulindu, whom he feels will somehow offer him an army. Giving himself a month's travel in either direction, Rowanfury feels he has a month to drum up an army before they meet back at Pria Blanca.

In the meantime, the four cuerno verdes, Woodstrike, Tamuril, Luthien and Astra are left to organise a tourament to act as cover for the incoming army.

What can possibly go wrong?

Progress Report 3

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