The Necromancer IC

[Kaptin Keen]

It is morning as Thanat leaves the cave, heading east for the frontier towns. In sharp contrast to the night before, the rain has stopped, and the last clouds are being chased off, revealing blue sky, and varm sunlight.

Several times that day Thanat meets streams swollen with the downpour, but each time he finds a spot to cross. He makes it away from the foothills of the mountains, and down onto the plains. Rolling hills surround him, wild and untamed land without roads or landmarks. He sets off along the chain of the mountains, walking all day long without meeting a living soul.

As the sun drops towards the horizon, he finds a spot to camp. There is a small stream for water, shelter in the form of a lonely, huge tree with a tight canopy, and some tinder for which he summons a brief flare of magic to light a fire.

As the light fades, Thanat spots a slight glow, many miles to the southeast.

[iTookUrNick]

The glow looks promising, but too far to check out during the night. Thanat resolves to investigate it the following morning. Not having much of a choice, he wraps himself in his cloak and goes to sleep. "Watch over me, please"

[Kaptin Keen]

Always, Lord!

As the herald speaks, Despair fades into view, accompanied by a drop in temperature and a long, wailing, hopeless wail. Then, the shade or Ardvil stands before you.

I shall guard you, he intones, flat and infectionless voice. He takes a few steps away from the fire, and the temperature rises to normal again.

Spoiler: That night!

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... nothing happens. You awaken the next morning, and watch as Despair fades with the first light.

[iTookUrNick]

After a little preparation, Thanat resumes his march. He aims for the place where he saw something glow the previous night.

Spoiler: OOC

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Obviously, posts will be less frequent on workdays.

[Kaptin Keen]

It's many miles to the town you spotted last night, but after just a few hours of walking, farms begin to dot the land. They are obviously designed to be defensible, and for obvious reasons - you pass more than one that has suffered damage, one even burned down. This is a hostile land.

It's into the afternoon when you crest a rise and see the town in the distance. At the same time, a group of riders see you, and ride towards you.

[iTookUrNick]

Thanat waits patiently for the riders to come to him, his hands empty, hoping for them to be human and friendly. Or non-hostile, at least.
He looks carefully as they advance, looking for early signs of aggression or clues about their origin.

Spoiler: Roll

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Spot - (1d20+4)[10], looking for anything that might be useful.

[Kaptin Keen]

They number six, one of them clearly a sergeant or similar. They are in rather piecemeal armor, but it's clear that someone made at least a half hearted effort to make them seem uniform. They all wear red and black, and the sergeant has a surcoat sporting what you assume is wheat, a plowshear and a cowhorn, all against the ankh of the gods.

The sergeant speaks as they close with you, coming up to a couple of yards without any sign of threat.

Hail, stranger. My name is Ranold, and I'm ... well, I have the honor to command the fine militia of Mountainshade. And right now, I'm slightly confused. You see, no one ever comes here ... you know, unannounced, or alone, or from the direction you're coming.

So begging your pardon sir, it seems I shall have to enquire to your business and so forth.

Ranold is of middling years, of unimpressive build even if he seems fit, and has kind, intelligent eyes. He sports a mustache a sea captain would be proud of, and has an array of useful implements about his person, most of them of use to a gamesman or tracker. They would also be quite servicable for killing, most of them.

[iTookUrNick]

"Well met, Roland of Mountainshade. I confess I am relieved to find you and your band of horsemen helping to keep the countryside secure. You seem the insightful type, and you are quite right to question me. I come from Madripor, though not directly, and I am a man of the law. Specifically, I made it my business to investigate a wicked crime and bring the culprit, or culprits, to justice.
However, I am missing some key elements I need to pursue my goal, and I've come this way to see if I can find them. In the meantime, I am at your service. I am trained in the arcane arts, and I would be more than willing to lend a hand when I can."

[Kaptin Keen]

It's Ranold, actually. Common enough mistake. It ... seem to have not caught your name, sir?

[iTookUrNick]

Spoiler: OOC

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Quick question: if I say something along the lines of "You can call me Ardvil", do I need to make a bluff check?

[Kaptin Keen]

Spoiler: OOC

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Quick question: if I say something along the lines of "You can call me Ardvil", do I need to make a bluff check?

Spoiler: OOC

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Stating a name other than the real one doesn't need a check. Chosing the name of a famous hero might be dangerous for other reasons, however.

[iTookUrNick]

Spoiler: Addendum

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yeah, I thought about that, and I am not thrilled at the prospect.

A quick follow-up question then: are those papers personal? Or are they a more generic "whoever holds this..." sort of thing?

[Kaptin Keen]

Spoiler: Etc

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They are personal. By Royal Edict, witnessed by the High Magister, the Court Supreme and the High Bishop, Ardvil Clavourne is given right of .... and so on and so forth.

Now, if you knew a clever thief ...

[iTookUrNick]

Of course, Ranold of Mountainshade: my apologies. You can call me Alastor if you like.

[Kaptin Keen]

Well, Alastor, welcome to Mountainshade. And a dappler in the arcane, no less? A rare breed. A rare breed indeed. Sir, if I might recommend you take a room at the Stout, I might drop by this evening for a brief chat. About the usual, you know - no summoning of demons, raisings of the dead, stealing of the minds of ones fellow man and so on and so forth. Mere formality, you know. He smiles, indicating that he's joking. Mostly. You think.

And with that, the men continue their patrol (unless you have some parting remark).

It's a couple of hours still to the town. You'll be arriving in the late afternoon. From this distance, you estimate it's a township of a couple of thousand souls. It has wooden palisades flanked by stone towers, and with the outlying farms, this place might total from three to five thousand.

And it even has a kinda-sorta uniformed militia. Hardly provincial at all =)

[iTookUrNick]

"Of course, the usual. I understand" says Thanat wit ha a small bow. He waits for the patrol to move before resuming his journey.

The town looks quiet enough, though hardly a treasure trove of arcane knowledge. He plans to have a decent tour of its 'attractions' (that shouldn't take too long) before getting room where Ranold said.

[Kaptin Keen]

Thanat reaches Mountainshade without incident. The walls, while timber rather than stone, are stout, and actually manned - if lightly. He's hailed at the gate, but asked merely for name and business before being let through.

The town is definitely rural - a mix of stone and Wood, but surprisingly the main roads are paved, the market seems to be thriving, and there are numerous shops and small industries. In part, this is only logical: The land is dangerous, and a place such as this needs to be self sustaining. So most anything made from leather, Wood or stone is produced locally. There is a smithy too - but it's silent currently.

The Golden Stout, the tavern recommended by Ranold, is a large stone Building right on the town square. It shares this prestigious location with the town hall, a small temple to the gods, something called the Mountainshade Combine by the sign above the door, a small wooden Building with the label of Guild of Porters and Laborers.

People on the streets nod and smile, and take general curious interest in the strange newcomer.

Spoiler: ...

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Let me know if I should Progress the time until evening - or you have ambitions prior to that.

[iTookUrNick]

Thanat takes everything in. To him, this looks like a good place to hide, lay low, and start over, but not quite what he was looking for when he set out to further his main goal. Still, it's never a waste of time to ask around for unusual pieces of gossip. He's never done it himself, but he's heard that taverns are a good place to start; he'll probably chat a few people up this evening. In the meantime, he takes a closer look at the market, looking for magical supplies.

Spoiler: OOC

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I do not know how you wish to play this in a PbP setting. At the end of the day I'd like to know:

1. Are there spells for sale (usually in the form of scrolls)?
2. Who are the big actors in town?
3. What is the Commune (just because I'm curious)?
4. Any archaists in or around town? Perhaps a lone hermit somewhere?
5. What gods are represented in the town's temple, and what gods are there in this setting anyway?
6. Are there hot issues in general?
7. What is the situation with the savage species? Raids/threats? Any outposts? What's around here geographically?
8. Are there rumors and stories about unusual things happening around? Any ancient/cursed/haunted sites? Places "you'd better star clear of"?
9. Are there expeditions being organized right now, either for archeological or economical purposes? Are they ever?
10. If not, are there grunts availabe for hire for such endeavors?

Also, do you have any house rule for magic item creation? What about Xp expenditure, for example?

[Kaptin Keen]

Thanat takes everything in. To him, this looks like a good place to hide, lay low, and start over, but not quite what he was looking for when he set out to further his main goal. Still, it's never a waste of time to ask around for unusual pieces of gossip. He's never done it himself, but he's heard that taverns are a good place to start; he'll probably chat a few people up this evening. In the meantime, he takes a closer look at the market, looking for magical supplies.

Spoiler: OOC

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I do not know how you wish to play this in a PbP setting. At the end of the day I'd like to know:

1. Are there spells for sale (usually in the form of scrolls)?
2. Who are the big actors in town?
3. What is the Commune (just because I'm curious)?
4. Any archaists in or around town? Perhaps a lone hermit somewhere?
5. What gods are represented in the town's temple, and what gods are there in this setting anyway?
6. Are there hot issues in general?
7. What is the situation with the savage species? Raids/threats? Any outposts? What's around here geographically?
8. Are there rumors and stories about unusual things happening around? Any ancient/cursed/haunted sites? Places "you'd better star clear of"?
9. Are there expeditions being organized right now, either for archeological or economical purposes? Are they ever?
10. If not, are there grunts availabe for hire for such endeavors?

Also, do you have any house rule for magic item creation? What about Xp expenditure, for example?

Spoiler: Answers

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1. Are there spells for sale (usually in the form of scrolls)?
   Remember that this is E6. Class levels of any kind are rare, casters are rare among those with class levels, and casters with the selection of feats you need are rare among those. Expect no Magic Item Shoppes. But perhaps you can find someone to make something to order.
   
2. Who are the big actors in town?
   Asking around, you find that the leaders of the Combine, the mayor, Ranold, the local magistrate - a man called Valdus, and someone called Vardryn. This last man seems to be important only because he speaks on behalf of someone else. It's all a little opague to you.
   
   There is also some vague mention of the Guild of Porters and Laborers.
   
3. What is the Commune (just because I'm curious)?
   The Combine are a collection of land owners and industry leaders.
   
4. Any archaists in or around town? Perhaps a lone hermit somewhere?
   It seems Vardryn has some sort of arcane ability.
   
5. What gods are represented in the town's temple, and what gods are there in this setting anyway?
   It's just the gods. Where ever I'm in charge, the generic cleric of the gods is norm - and more specialised clerics (of Odin, say) are zealous weirdos who ignore the majority of the pantheon in favor of one god that appeals specifically to them.
   
6. Are there hot issues in general?
   Orcs and gnolls. Hostile nature. The place is peaceful - but if you look for it, it's easy to find the scars of past conflict. A few burnt timbers here, repairs to town walls there.
   
7. What is the situation with the savage species? Raids/threats? Any outposts? What's around here geographically?
   This is the outpost. Raids are common, though mostly against farms. Geographically is ... a big question. A couple of waterways flow from the mountains, there are deep valleys closer to those same mountains, flat grasslands to the south.
   
8. Are there rumors and stories about unusual things happening around? Any ancient/cursed/haunted sites? Places "you'd better star clear of"?
   The mountains are dangerous. Orcs, and worse, live there. The grasslands are dangerous, gnolls live there.
   
   Mind, intelligent evil races are only monsters if they so chose - savage species can be reasoned with, after a fashion. Orcs occasionally come to Mountainshade to trade.
   
9. Are there expeditions being organized right now, either for archeological or economical purposes? Are they ever?
   It's more like a landgrab. Go out, find a piece of land you feel you can tame - grab it, hold on, build strong walls.
   
10. If not, are there grunts availabe for hire for such endeavors?
    There are a certain brand of frontier brawny men available for hire. You might call them thugs, for want of a better word.
    

[iTookUrNick]

Thanat spends his first day making enquiries about the local situation. Even in a small city such as this one, there are a lot of thing going on. He replenishes his stores of spell components, and buys enough supplies to write a scroll or two for himself. He rents a room at the local tavern and starts working on one as he waits for the patrolman.

[Kaptin Keen]

Thanat prepares his scroll, his quill dancing across the parchment, jotting out the fine, arcane traceries of runes and symbols. Eventually, his stomach informs him it's time to put the quill aside - a tempting scent is wafting up from the common room, stealthily creeping under the door, to lure him down for dinner.

As he returns to the common room, it's more than half full, people at most tables - drinking, eating, talking. A single table stands a little apart from the others in a small alcove. At this table, Ranold awaits, looking somewhat distracted while he sips his beer, the Golden Stout for which the tavern is named. Deep in thoughts, he seems not to have noticed Thanat.

[iTookUrNick]

Thanat asks a member of the staff for the same beer (it must be good if the locals drink it, he thinks) and a light meal to go with it, then respectfully approaches the patrolman at his table. "Mr. Ranold, mind if I join you?"

[Kaptin Keen]

Alastor, was it? No, certainly not - have a seat.

First off, let me just point out that all that black mage crap I told you earlier was more for the benefit of the men than you. I doubt you'd travel all the way out here only to ruin the place.

Now, let me tell you about being the captain of a frontier militia.

Twenty years ago, when I first came here, this place was failing. I want you to really understand that. Mountainshade was fighting, and losing. Our mayor changed that. Subtly. I'm not sure the rest of the people here realise how - but he turned it around. If you look around now, the town is thriving.

He pauses for a sip of his beer. You follow suit, and to your surprise, it's nothing short of excellent.

It's so simply - once you know how it's done. Mayor Osgood has spread our risks, and consolidated our strenghts. He has built dozens of granaries, spread out across town and across numerous farms. He has increased the number of farms, but reduced their total land area. He has drawn the militia back, rather than have it patrol heavily.

In essence, he has put more people outside the town walls, and in doing so made them more capable of defending themselves. Before, we'd commit the militia to all attacks - and that meant attrition, and attrition against orcs or gnolls means you lose.

Now, we're only commiting our best fighting force to the worst fights - but when we go, we go hard. This militia has some rather decent horse, an excellent archer corps, and a solid force of stout infantry.

But it all hinges on accepting some losses. When a single farm is raided - well, then it's raided. We can't help everyone, because if we try to, we lose the war. We can't save that farm, but we can rebuild it.

[iTookUrNick]

"Perfectly understandable: common folks, even when brave and hardened, tend to be unnerved by what they do not understand, and there is little less understood than Arcane magic. By definition, really. However, i was under the impression there was at least one other archaist in town. A man by the name of... Vardryn, I believe?"

Thanat listen to the man's account with fascination. "What you say about the mayor's choice sounds terrible, but also very wise. I guess some things might be both. Back in Madripor, such way of thinking would have many left feeling outraged, probably because it is hard to make this kind of decisions when you can hardly remember how it feels to be in danger at all... instead, this mayor fellow seems to know what he is doing. I wonder if he's ever thought about a more decisive action, either diplomatic or military in nature... not that I'm suggesting anything, mind you. I'm just asking as a mean to understand. Surely if we find out what these orcs and such really want and care for we can try and reach some sort of understanding... or maybe not, I don't know. I must confess I've never seen an orc in person, much less spoken to one."

[Kaptin Keen]

Mayor Osgood has made some very hard, but very necessary choices: Do what feels right, but deplete our ressources - or do what makes sense, and thrive. We do not have numerical superiority, we cannot simply go out and make a bold statement against our enemies. It's been tried in the past, to the great detriment of Mountainshade.

The orcs can be reasoned with. But they will raid, it's in their nature - because it's also in their nature not to be particularly productive on their own. It's not that they are lazy, but they are none too bright, and none too imaginative. So when their neighbors do better than they do, they come and simply take what they desire.

The hyena men however are ... beyond reason. Unlike the orcs, they are not nest builders. They have no towns, they do not particularly plan for the next generation - they hunt, and fight, and that is to a certain extent all they exist to do.

And they've been quiet for a long while.

Look around town. The scars of conflict are everywhere, but they are all old. The gnolls have stayed their hand for years now - and it's entirely out of their nature. Something has changed, and it's keeping me up at night. I need to find out what - I need to know if it's something I need to act against.

As you talk, your dinner arrives. It's simple fare, but it's delicious: Juicy meat, fresh potatoes seasoned with brown butter and herbs, bread still warm from the oven.

[iTookUrNick]

Thanat listens to the man's concerns in silence as he enjoys his simple meal, which tastes like a king's feast after the scarcity of the last few days. Eventually, he asks matter-of-factly: "You are right, you need to know where the danger is coming from in order to have a chance to withstand it. When are you planning to go and take a look?"

[Kaptin Keen]

I have gone - on several occasions. That's what patrols are for, after all. And the fact that I cannot find anything suspicious is the most suspicious of all. The gnolls aren't good at hiding secrets. In years past, I've always found something or other, large or small. But now? The plains are either empty, or peaceful.

I need a different set of skills, Alastor. I need someone who can see what I cannot, see from afar perhaps? Hell, maybe even someone more clever than myself. That's why I wanted to ask you - seasoned traveller, accomplished arcanist ... and so on, right?

He looks at you, hopefully. Even so, you also sense he knows very well the risk he's asking you to take. The plains are huge, and the numbers of savage tribes out there proportional to that.

[iTookUrNick]

Thanat manages to keep his cool and not to choke on his food as Ranold describes him as a seasoned traveller. Instead, he answers with smile: "You know, I was about to volunteer to help you out on this one, Mr Ranold." Then he gets a bit more serious, adding: "However, if this is as important as you say, i will need something more from you: to begin with, a written document charging me with this task and the authority to make enquiries on your behalf would go a long way. Supplies and a man or two who have been to the plains might also be useful, if you can spare them. If not, I can manage without."

[Kaptin Keen]

You can have all the documents you want - signed by me and mayor Osgood both - but they'll do you precious little good where you're headed. As far as human civilisation goes, this is it, my friend. From here on out, there's no one who considers us an authority.

But you'll have the documents, and supplies too - anything you can carry off is yours. I'll find you a guide too, and horses.

The thing is that I don't want to send a large expedition - that's what's failed me all the other times.

Now, you asked about Vardryn. Yes, he's an arcanist. But he's a difficult, strange man. But go see him, if you like.

[iTookUrNick]

"So it is settled then: I will look into the matter.". Thanat lifts his mug a little, as if in toast. "I plan to set out in the morning, after speaking with this Vardryn fellow."

Spoiler: OOC

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After that, unless there is more, T. will take his leave and go to sleep, in order to have a good start in the morning.