Tales of Van Kreev (Summer Campaign 3.5) IC

[alchemyprime]

Welcome to the city of Van Kreev. A city of magic, of power and of money. A city where bumping the wrong person could start a war or a business. A city where magic is strong, the beer is good and the wine (and the citizens) are fine indeed.

This tale, peculiarly enough, started in the wee hours of the night, with a random gnoll slave that had run away. He had gone out and attacked a female with a Magic's Blessing to steal from her (and hopefully nothing else. We don't need another half-gnoll THAT way...).

However, five random passers by managed to save the woman from the crook.

One was a majestic paladin, with a sheild adorned with a tannenbaum of Sinter and the hearts of Aizen-Myo. She seemed to be a kind a loving sort, much like her two gods.

Another was a priest, holding symbols of the Gods of the Bridge, who had just offered a small prayer to Borxleck Trab, Lord Darkbriar and his patron (or rather, matron) Aizen-Myo after the death of the theif.

A dwarf, shaved of his hair, had also joined the fray, as had an elf with many a tool on his belt.

Rounding off the group was a female halfling with many a tool and a nice walking stick she had used well as a weapon.

The human woman, horrified at the events as well as the black mark on her hand that had created the fire that killed the beast, went to the feet of the priest and the paladin crying.

"Oh please! Please pray the Ladies of the city forgive me! Please don't let the knights get the wrong idea. Oh please!"

After coming to her senses a bit she dried her tears. "My name is Madrona. I thank you all for helping me. Please, I wish to know the names of my saviours."

[13_CBS]

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Nulgor's bald? Huh, I don't recall putting that on the character sheet. Nonetheless, I just came up with an idea for that.

Nulgor, Psychic Warrior

The first to speak was a very disinterested dwarf, clad in nothing but street clothes and with a meaty hand resting on the pommel of a large sword. His eyes flicked from the woman's hand to the smoking gnoll corpse as he rubbed his shaved head distractedly (he had cut it only a few days before: why keep hair when you can sell it for some extra cash?).

"The name's Nulgor," he grunted. He started cleaning the bit of gnoll blood off of his blade. "Gnoll's a runaway slave, 'course the Knight's aren't going to suspect you. It obviously tried to mug you in the night, simple 'nough. Right, Paladin?" He glances at the Paladin, while also eying the woman for her financial status, wondering if she would compensate them somehow (how he managed to glance at one thing while eying another is a source of utter mystery to many of his associates).

[Legoshrimp]

The next to speak was an elf wearing all black. He glanced to his right to see the dwarf that was speaking.

When it was clear Nulgor was done Orilur began by saying "Hello my name is Orilur" He glanced down at the scorched Gnoll as he continued, "I'm just glad we could help."

[blackseven]

The black haired priest, after having failed to prevent the gnoll's death, was kneeling over the gnoll in prayer. He was wearing a brilliant rose madder robe, cut and fitted to allow easy movement, trimmed in black, a black field prominently featuring the twin hearts of Aizen Myo in golden yellow first on the top left, with a slightly smaller design of Lord Darkbriar's sword and hands in silver to its right, with the symbols of the other gods of the Bridge Pantheon traced along the bottom of the field in magnolia white, on its back, and a similar field the right chest of the robe. His right hand was on the grip of a very long sword, inverted with it point on the ground, while his left hand was held clenched over his heart. The tone of his whispers and the slight movement of his body left no doubt as to the fervency of his prayers. At length, he appeared to finish and stood up, returning the greatsword to its harness, and revealing brown eyes that held an intense, but honest and open, gaze.

"Good lady Madrona, I see no need to panic. Though the response of my sudden fellows and myself may have been... overzealous... it appears to have been fully justified, and fortunate for all involved save the gnoll. Perhaps, with care, he could have been saved... but his fate is the natural consequence of his own choices."

He pauses to gather his thought and surveys the scene again.

"But to answer your request, I am called Moryl Gamulyne, a humble acolyte of the Bridge Gods, given first to Aizen Myo. That I have answered your query, may I presume to present one of my own, impertinent as it may be: for what reason do you fear the scrutiny of the knights or the retribution of the Ladies?"

[alchemyprime]

Madrona looks to Moryl. "I killed that gnoll. If the knights were to think I did it on purpose I'd be forced to do the hempen jig! Or worse, I killed it with magic I never used before. I could be killed by spell. I'd be lucky if I were disintegrated, but it'd probably be fire!" Madrona begins hyperventilating. "Then when I die I'll be sent to Lady Banwar instead of Lady Aizen-Myo or Lady Hiatea and I'll be punished and tortured for eternity instead of gaining new life!"

Madrona falls to her knees at the bottom of your robe. "Please! Pray that the gods of the bridge forgive me! And mighty paladin, pray Sinter does the same! Pray they protect me from Lady Banwar when my time comes! Please!" MAdrona begins sobbing like crazy. "I can pay you and your churches! My father is an Underway trader! He can get gems no one else could imagine! Red and black bloodstones, deep crystals, diamond spiders, things you can't imagine!" She then bursts into inaudible sobs.

Moryl

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The gnoll is still barely breathing. Might I suggest a Cure Minor WoundsStabilize orison.

[13_CBS]

Nulgor, Psychic Warrior

Deep crystals, she said?

Suddenly, the bald dwarf looks very interested.

[Bayar]

Relax. We will tell the guards what happened: the gnoll attacked you, we jumped to help you, during the struggle he somehow grabbed one of my Alchemical Fire flasks but broke it open, engulfing himself in flames.

The little halfling moves towards Madrona and gently puts her left hand on her shoulder. My name is Meira Shortmaster, by the way.

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An Underway gem trader specialised in exotics ! What an opportunity ! But I wonder...why did she just now discovered her magical powers ?

[roll="Knowledge (arcana)"]1d20+8[/roll]

OOC Edit: rusty with the dice roller name tag command.

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* post roll count doesn't match database

[alchemyprime]

Bayar

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Reroll please. Don't put the Knowledge Arcana in the brackets, just bold it next to them.

Meira

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It has been known for a MAgic's Blesing to be confused for a birthmark before. Maybe she just never was stressed enough to activate it before. It is one that isn't found in family lines, after all.

[blackseven]

Moryl tilts his head slightly as if hearing something.

"Excuse me a moment, lady Madrona. Your distress may be premature."

He walks back over to the gnoll, muttering a quick word while extending his hand over the gnoll's wounds, and a warm light appears for a second.

"Thank the Lady! She has granted me wisdom where mine was lacking. This unfortunate yet lives, though precariously. For the time being, tragedy has been averted, for both this gnoll and for yourself, lady Madrona."

[13_CBS]

Nulgor, Psychic Warrior

Nulgor was about to speak when he saw the cleric heal the gnoll's wounds.

"Fool," he growled. "You need to secure him first!" He moves next to the gnoll, weapon at the ready.

[blackseven]

Moryl raises a hand to slow Nulgor.

"Good dwarf, your vigilance is commendable, but perhaps over-excited. My use of the Lady's power was only enough to stop this unfortunate's slide into death, and no more. He will remain unconscious yet. I do agree it is prudent to secure him at this time. Would you have the skill or implements necessary to do so?"

[13_CBS]

(Gonna switch over to present tense here, past is getting a bit awkward...)

Nulgor, Psychic Warrior

Nulgor halts and blinks, surprised.


"Alright then, I guess you'd know more of this than I would..." He keeps his sword at the ready, however, and eyes the gnoll with caution. "Anyone got a bit of rope?"

He looks around for anything that he could use to securely tie up the gnoll.

[Legoshrimp]

Orilur walks up to the gnoll and says "I have both" He takes out a small length of thin rope from a pouch at his belt, and ties the gnolls arms and legs.

While doing this he also examines it to see if there are any clues to the gnolls social status.

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Knowledge local (1d20+7)[26]

[alchemyprime]

Orilur

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It is obvious from the lash marks and the raw skin around the throat that this was indeed a slave that recently broke off his collar. He obviously was not freed based off of him still wearing an earing made out of a silver piece with seven notches. Seven notches means slave, twelve means noble who likes fashion.

[Legoshrimp]

After binding the gnolls legs and arms together Orilur says "It seems this Gnoll recently escaped." After a short pause he continued "We might be able to get something for it being returned alive"

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Thipika

The small, dark-skinned paladin shakes her head at the womans distress. "You grieve for things not yet happening, that will be prevented. Apparently the creature is still alive. We will return it to it's proper owner, with an apology and an explanation. No harm will be done." She smiles easily.
"My name is Thipika."

[13_CBS]

Nulgor, Psychic Warrior

Nulgor prods the singed runaway with his foot. "So it's definitely a runaway, eh? The elf's right, the thing will fetch a pretty penny from its owner if we bring it back alive." His dark eyes glimmered like deep crystal as he said this.

[Bayar]

Alive but barely breathing. Are you sure they wont ask US to pay them so they could take it and "fix" him ?

[blackseven]

Moryl considers a moment before nodding to both Meira and Nulgor.

"The good halfling raises a valid concern. It would not be seemly to return this gnoll to his masters as is. If the good elf is sure of his bindings, I will invoke the Lady's blessing to heal this unfortunate. Then, if such a thing interests any among us, we may return this gnoll to his masters and seek after a reward."

If Orilur gives the approval, Moryl will heal the gnoll. If not, Moryl will wait.

Moryl then turns to Madrona.

"Lady Madrona, you have had a harrowing night and perhaps should retire. I will accompany you to ensure that no further incidents mar your return."

He turns back to the group preparing to take the gnoll back.

"If there is any further liability, I can be found at the church of Aizen Myo. As for any reward, should one be offered, you may keep 'my share.'"

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Thipika

Thipika watches the priest move off.

"We're forgetting something. How are we supposed to find where the gnoll came from in the first place?"

[Legoshrimp]

"He wont escape, you can heal him if you think it is wise."

Orilur tries to remember if slaves have any markings to suggest who their master was.

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Knowledge local (1d20+7)[12]

[13_CBS]

Nulgor, Psychic Warrior

"We could ask the Knights," suggests Nulgor.

[alchemyprime]

Orilur

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No decent markings but a Diplomacy check to Gather Information could work for anyone and everyone.

[Legoshrimp]

"I don't see any sign of who his owner was, but we can ask around a bit to see if anyone knows."

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diplomacy-gather information(1d20+5)[11]

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Thipika

Thipika gives a small laugh. "Hello stranger, have you lost a gnoll lately? Well, it's worth a shot."

[OOC: Is the gnoll still unconscious? If yes:]

Thipika lifts the gnoll up onto her back, so she looks like she's giving the poor thing a piggy-back ride. "Ooof."

[A gnoll is within Thipika's carrying limits, before you ask]

[13_CBS]

Nulgor Antorak, Psychic Warrior

Seeing that the gnoll is secured, Nulgor asks, "Hrm...anyone know where the nearest Knight precinct is?" As he does so, he pops a brown colored crystal into his mouth.

"Mmm, 315, a good year, that."

[alchemyprime]

At that moment, a pair of men walk down the alley, one looking particularly drunk, the other much more sober. The drunk one, a human, is dressed in what may have been fancy clothes but are now dissheveled and the sober one, a maenad, is in scale mail with no helmet. They both have on the symbol of Van Kreev, the four pointed star surrounded by twelve stars with twelve points each. Theirs is emblazoned on a miniature sheild pin for the drunk man and on a light sheild for the armored man.

The armored man looks down the alley at you all. "Halt! This is the Knights Consort! We just have a few questions!"

The drunk man starts muttering something.
"Oc, kelaan daagaan't dar taar kekhaan her ac daan aguur rhaac ach ghec keklaan? Ac muul'dr taan kelaan a khrelaan dar rhaal duukec?"

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It's in Goblin. If you understand it, open the one below.

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Yep, like where's that sweet little girl in the armor been all my life? And how'd she like a nice warm bed tonight?

The armored man steps on the unarmored one's foot. "Please ignor my associate! He has become uncable to fulfill his duties tonight by effect of spider wine! He wasn't too bright to begin with either."

Madrona gets worried and hides behind Moryl. "Oh please... explain it to them and make them go away! Tell them it was just a mugging!" Her nerves are still shot, though she has calmed down considerably.

[Bayar]

Meira chuckles as Thipika finishes her little joke. "I WAS going to go back to my room at the inn, to get some rest before tomorrow, but this sounds more interesting than another day spent waiting on the side of the road for any potential customers.

Lets go ask the knights at the local garrison. Maybe they recieved word of the escaped gnoll from the owner."

[alchemyprime]

The armored knight overhears Meira. "Escaped gnoll? And you five took it down yourselves? Impressive, even if it was a slave. I'm Alberit. This is my associate Lucas. He's... not much help right now."

Alberit sits lucas down and offers to Thipika to carry the gnoll. "Despite Lucas's drunk ramblings, I am afraid I'll have to agree with him on one part miss. You are far too attractive for me to allow you to carry this gnoll the whole way to the garrison. I would offer to help you if I didn't need to carry Lucas back there as well. But for at least halfway, allow me to carry both loads." He nods at both Thipkia and Meira with a small grin, then looks to Moryl, Nuglor and Orilur. "You three, if you could, help with getting the woman there to the garrison. Follow me." He points to Madrona. "Her legs seem weak. We don't want her falling."

[blackseven]

Moryl clears his throat and faces the sober guard, subtly straightening his robe.

"Good Knight Consort, this lady is considerably distressed by tonight's events. As there was no permanent harm done, would it be possible to forgo such necessary questioning until the morn?"

Diplomacy roll:

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(1d20+7)[20]