"New" Brightland campaign (IC)

[backwaterj]

Lamyria took in the impressive show of magics with a curiously blank expression, though those who knew her well would realize she was intently focused, committing as many of the subtleties of incantation and gesture as possible to memory for later study and reflection.

When asked to mingle, she all but grimaced.

Mingle. From what I've seen, that means either talk excessively about things of little consequence, pretend to listen with rapt attention, or stand clear and wait patiently for it to be over.

Lamyria's choice was clear: to stand in silence.

[Edgar Snow]

Jimmy looks at you, Sigurd, in both confusion and awe.

"Umm, yeah, hey? I'm a craftsman at best. My family owns a hardware store. I make things that I can't use very well myself. I can bless things if you want, but I do not think it will help. Sorry?"

"Brother, come with me," says Zee in response. "We'll go to the Church. There we can both see the shrine of Kord. Then we can go eat a great meal. I have doubts that you need to gain much more knowledge of young Jimmy's devices than you do now".

[Edgar Snow]

Lamyria:
The crowd contains mostly murmurs and whispers, of congratulations for the performers, and a few boisterous hollers and laughs. The noise drops by half when Smokebeard turns towards his audience, reaches into the bag, and pulls out two live chickens.

It drops to complete silence as he wraps his large hands around their heads and proceeds to snap both of their necks and drops the pair to the ground.

"Now listen up. You has all found yer way on a journey. Different paths and such. But here ye be. So, right. Know it be true, there are those that do some awful things with magic. May ye never find them. If ye do, ye gotta make sure to show 'em what's what".

"Oh silly old man. You're ramblin on," comes from Cabbage.

"Here's what it is. Evil is out ther. It takes more than a shield to block evil magic. Our land protects us from the worse kind, that which wretches away our essence, soul, spirit... Ta core of our being, whatev'r it be".

He takes the black gem, and begins to cast a spell over one of the dead birds.

[redzimmer]

Sigurd

Sigurd follows Zee with no small relief. Odd weapons and strange bartering customs always confused him.

But to toast Lord Kord in His house, now that was something the Son of Rolf understood.

"Yes, Brother Elf! Let us give glory to the Lord!"

[lenon3579]

Reeve shaked his head affirmatively and helped reunite the bolts.

I'm ready when you are ready.

[backwaterj]

Lamyria narrowed her eyes slightly as Smokebeard produced the chickens, then murmured a few words in her native tongue, head bowed, after he snapped their necks. Spirits, grant us mercy for these lives that were taken.

As quickly as the words were said, she focused her attention once more on the ritual, her expression betraying none of the nagging unease which seemed to permeate the room. Now what could Master Smokebeard be up to, I wonder?

Spoiler: It's a long shot, but...

Show

Spellcraft roll: (1d20+6)[21]

[Edgar Snow]

Kimi, Reeve: Jimmy begins his lesson, refusing to let you try to shoot the weapons until you hear a lecture on a component. Then he sends you to collect the bolts. Then how to put bolts in a mag. And repeat.
This will take until the evening meal

Sigurd:
As part of Zee's request, you head into the Knights' building so he may retrieve his "real weapon". You head to his room, which is at least twice as big as the one you've been in for the last five years. In his room you find a small armory. All of the weapons, you realize, are for ranged combat: shortbow here, javelin there, slings and bullets made from different materials. He grabs a thick, wooden longbow. "All set here, brother," as he motions towards the door.

Lamyria:
You know the term most often used when discussing the dead is "soul", usually as a willing soul to return to this world, at least from an academic point.

You recognize the school of necromancy, something often not publicly displayed because of its connection, real or not, with evil.

Smokebeard stuffs the black gem into the chicken's throat. You catch part of his utterance that sounds like a complete inversion of the divine power to raise dead.

The spell itself is over in less time than it took for him to take the chicken out of the bag and kill it. Immediately, its feathers flake off, some with large patches of skin. The muscles slide off the bones and the bird's innards, with no support, fall after. With only the skeleton remaing, you hear several gasps and cries as the bones move, turn slightly, and targets the boot of Smokebeard.

His response his a light, but deep chuckle. The bird, leaving no more than a scuff of the boots toe, begins to turn black, stop in place, and collapses in a pile of ashes by the time it hits the ground.

"No soul, y'see..." as he gestures to the pile.

[redzimmer]

Sigurd

Sigurd notes the mounted weapons with an approving nod.

Real weapons. Warrior's weapons, not some mech-a-nik abomination!

He follows.

[Chilimaggot]

Kurtulnezhad wakes later in the morning than he intended, the sun shining brightly on his face.

Muttering foul curses to himself, he stands up and draws the curtains closed. "Aaaah." he sighs, stretching in the new shade.

He bends to the ground and begins his prayers. He finishes by tracing a pentagram with an eye in the center out of the dust on his floor and dancing around it, his wooden holy symbol dangling from his teeth.

Wishing he had a hood and fumbling in his pocket for his favorite claw-polishing rock, he heads out the door and toward the Dragons building for the demonstration, filing away at his well-kept claws.

[backwaterj]

Lamyria took a moment to swallow the lump of cold dread that had finally caught up with her. Relieved as she was that the chicken had not reanimated for more than a second or two, there was still something . . . dreadfully wrong about the whole thing, and a huge shock to see the respected Master invoking such fell energies.

Which was probably the point.

[lenon3579]

Kimi, Reeve: Jimmy begins his lesson, refusing to let you try to shoot the weapons until you hear a lecture on a component. Then he sends you to collect the bolts. Then how to put bolts in a mag. And repeat.
This will take until the evening meal

At first Reeve looks very interested and is participative, but after a couple of minutes on his focus shift and he grows impatient and starts to daydreaming... until he sees one more shooting demonstration and thinks "C'mon, this may be useful, that trincket is a good one" and goes back to the interested fase again.

Until the evening meal, if nothing interferes.

[Edgar Snow]

Sigurd,
your travels around the buildings end with you and Zee in front of the Shrine of Kord. While Zee is not a Cleric, he becomes trance-like and quiet - not something you would expect from the easy going, yet competitive, elf from the field. When he begins, you hear his prayers about overcoming his lack of strength; he asks for great courage and for even better luck.

When he is finished, he joins you in the expected prayers: rhythmic chanting and clapping that echos through the hall of shrines.

This takes you until the evening meal

Lamyria, and Kurtlenezhad,
it's as though Smokebeard has delivered the grand finale.
You hear whispered prayers, someone crying, and at least another towards the edge of the group sounds like they are vomiting. (Listen check rolled).

Smokebeard continues: "'Round now is when Whitechurch would say sometin' about the 'oly Sea, and its mist as a nat'ral holy water ocean. Too salty if you ask me. And same happens in the Mountains as with te Forest, so therr's THAT issue. Jus' don't go messing with people bodies and souls unless you plan on c'necting the pair. Death is far better than Undeath".

The presentation is over. Many members of the Church head towards their building. For some, it may be the last time to visit a shrine to their god for several days.

You have a short amount of time, about half of an hour, until the evening meal.

[Chilimaggot]

Kurtulnezhad notes the failed ritual as an effective means of corpse disposal.

He'll loiter in the area a few minutes before heading to grab a good spot for the evening meal.

[CWater]

"Well Jimmy, this is one of your more fun inventions." Kimi says after a few practice rounds smiling brightly. "You wouldn't care to lend out a few of these? To test them out in the field you know?" The almost-graduate winks and turns to Reeve, "Hey, these things may load on automatic, but they don't aim themselves. What do you say, Reeve, would you be up for a little contest?"

[backwaterj]

Lamyria felt a deep need to return to her pond for some much-needed centering. It was as if her soul was somehow . . . tarnished by the unholy magics she had witnessed. Hopefully there was enough time to set her energies right again before the evening meal.

[lenon3579]

"Well Jimmy, this is one of your more fun inventions." Kimi says after a few practice rounds smiling brightly. "You wouldn't care to lend out a few of these? To test them out in the field you know?" The almost-graduate winks and turns to Reeve, "Hey, these things may load on automatic, but they don't aim themselves. What do you say, Reeve, would you be up for a little contest?"

Reeve smiles and wink to Kimi The loser pays our first tavern drink when out of here.

[CWater]

Reeve smiles and wink to Kimi The loser pays our first tavern drink when out of here.

"Sure thing!"

Spoiler

Show

Should we make some rolls?

[Edgar Snow]

"There is no way I can have these out for 'field tests' yet. You'll have to ask Baker about that". He points to the light version of the weapon. "That one is going to Crouse; the other is Baker's. Take your shots, but we have got to get going".

Roll away!
...

When you all make your respective ways to the Common Hall, tables are set up in long rows in the center with other tables and carts along the outside walls. A singularly large table is at one wall. At it sits Smokebeard, the Patch's, Crouse, and Neemo Strongheart. This is the only time when the whole of Squiretown Academy has been together at one time. In total, it seems as there are only about 100 people present, faculty included. You grab a plate and bowl on your way in and are left to serve yourself from the buffet.

Spoiler: the meal

Show

contains simple but good food; what you'd expect, or guess, a high-end inn would provide

...

When the meal has settled down and most people are left picking at a few stray berries or sipping coffee, Neemo stands to address the group with a quick leap onto the head table.
"Ya. So eh! Folks! We gon' call ya up' and holla reeeeal loud!"
"Or, and better yet -" Crouse interjects, "we do this nice and civilized because we aren't outside and we have a few names to go through. When you are called, come on up to the front here. You will receive your grad pack and your certificate. Congratulations, you've made it through Squiretown Two Hundred Eighty!

Spoiler: Grad Pack notes

Show

You have all the gear from the 'grad pack' at this point. In addition, you receive a certificate of graduation with your name on it. Squiretown Certificate functions as a masterwork tool (+2 bonus) for Diplomacy, on checks made to influence attitude on those who respect the Squiretown Academy

...

The custom is to get your pack, return to your place at the table but remain standing until everyone has collected their things. Then, a collective bow towards the head table before filing out of the Common Hall for an early night.

Kimi and Reeve, you are stuck in Jimmy's room after the graduation, looking over blueprints, random parts and mechanics, crossbows in various states of repair (or disrepair), all of which are individual components that need to be understood as separate in order to understand how they work as a whole.

Spoiler: Kimi and Reeve

Show

Make an Intelligence check

[CWater]

"There is no way I can have these out for 'field tests' yet. You'll have to ask Baker about that". He points to the light version of the weapon. "That one is going to Crouse; the other is Baker's. Take your shots, but we have got to get going".

Roll away!

Jimmy's decline is met with an sigh, but no complaints. "Most hits of five?", Kimi asks Reeve while aiming the crossbow.

Spoiler

Show

What's needed to hit the target?

Shots:
(1d20+1)[6]
(1d20+1)[9]
(1d20+1)[2]
(1d20+1)[13]
(1d20+1)[13]

Kimi laughs after firing the shots. "Think I'll stick to swordfighting anyway."

-----------------------------

When you all make your respective ways to the Common Hall, tables are set up in long rows in the center with other tables and carts along the outside walls. A singularly large table is at one wall. At it sits Smokebeard, the Patch's, Crouse, and Neemo Strongheart. This is the only time when the whole of Squiretown Academy has been together at one time. In total, it seems as there are only about 100 people present, faculty included. You grab a plate and bowl on your way in and are left to serve yourself from the buffet.

Spoiler: the meal

Show

contains simple but good food; what you'd expect, or guess, a high-end inn would provide

...

When the meal has settled down and most people are left picking at a few stray berries or sipping coffee, Neemo stands to address the group with a quick leap onto the head table.
"Ya. So eh! Folks! We gon' call ya up' and holla reeeeal loud!"
"Or, and better yet -" Crouse interjects, "we do this nice and civilized because we aren't outside and we have a few names to go through. When you are called, come on up to the front here. You will receive your grad pack and your certificate. Congratulations, you've made it through Squiretown Two Hundred Eighty!

Spoiler: Grad Pack notes

Show

You have all the gear from the 'grad pack' at this point. In addition, you receive a certificate of graduation with your name on it. Squiretown Certificate functions as a masterwork tool (+2 bonus) for Diplomacy, on checks made to influence attitude on those who respect the Squiretown Academy

Kimi gets up to receive the paper and pack when called, resisting the urge to make a somersault on the way. About time! Adventure awaits! Not that I would have hated it here though. But seriously, I've waited long enought!

-----------------------------

The custom is to get your pack, return to your place at the table but remain standing until everyone has collected their things. Then, a collective bow towards the head table before filing out of the Common Hall for an early night.

Kimi and Reeve, you are stuck in Jimmy's room after the graduation, looking over blueprints, random parts and mechanics, crossbows in various states of repair (or disrepair), all of which are individual components that need to be understood as separate in order to understand how they work as a whole.

Spoiler: Kimi and Reeve

Show

Make an Intelligence check

"What do you want with these?" Kimi studies the various parts while whistling a cheery tune.

Spoiler: Int check

Show

(1d20+2)[9]

[lenon3579]

"There is no way I can have these out for 'field tests' yet. You'll have to ask Baker about that". He points to the light version of the weapon. "That one is going to Crouse; the other is Baker's. Take your shots, but we have got to get going".

Roll away!

Spoiler

Show

I don't know how much penalty for non-proficiency I will get after an afternoon of learning and demonstrations... so I'll only roll the dice and add up my +5 ranged attack bonus, later we apply the penalty manually.

(1d20+5)[22]
(1d20+5)[10]
(1d20+5)[19]
(1d20+5)[9]
(1d20+5)[6]

Think on the bright side, Kimi. I'll be covering your back.

When you all make your respective ways to the Common Hall, tables are set up in long rows in the center with other tables and carts along the outside walls. A singularly large table is at one wall. At it sits Smokebeard, the Patch's, Crouse, and Neemo Strongheart. This is the only time when the whole of Squiretown Academy has been together at one time. In total, it seems as there are only about 100 people present, faculty included. You grab a plate and bowl on your way in and are left to serve yourself from the buffet.

Spoiler: the meal

Show

contains simple but good food; what you'd expect, or guess, a high-end inn would provide

...

When the meal has settled down and most people are left picking at a few stray berries or sipping coffee, Neemo stands to address the group with a quick leap onto the head table.
"Ya. So eh! Folks! We gon' call ya up' and holla reeeeal loud!"
"Or, and better yet -" Crouse interjects, "we do this nice and civilized because we aren't outside and we have a few names to go through. When you are called, come on up to the front here. You will receive your grad pack and your certificate. Congratulations, you've made it through Squiretown Two Hundred Eighty!

Spoiler: Grad Pack notes

Show

You have all the gear from the 'grad pack' at this point. In addition, you receive a certificate of graduation with your name on it. Squiretown Certificate functions as a masterwork tool (+2 bonus) for Diplomacy, on checks made to influence attitude on those who respect the Squiretown Academy

Reeves walks with all grace and pomp, conscious [more than needed] of all the stares while he walks on to grab his grad pack. When he is near the table he curves perant the professors with affected mannerism and grabs his things and get back to his table, without a word.

The custom is to get your pack, return to your place at the table but remain standing until everyone has collected their things. Then, a collective bow towards the head table before filing out of the Common Hall for an early night.

Kimi and Reeve, you are stuck in Jimmy's room after the graduation, looking over blueprints, random parts and mechanics, crossbows in various states of repair (or disrepair), all of which are individual components that need to be understood as separate in order to understand how they work as a whole.

Spoiler: Kimi and Reeve

Show

Make an Intelligence check

Nice... nice... uuuuuh that one looks awesome

Spoiler

Show

(1d20+3)[16]

[Chilimaggot]

Kurtulnezhad wolfs down as much food as he can while sitting, almost indiscriminate of what food it actually is. He fills his plate as much and as frequently as possible without being completely inconsiderate of the other students.

He races up when called; he pays little attention to the crowd, instead examining his diploma. He almost misses the bow.

On his way back to his room/quarters/dorm(?) he paws through the grad pack, holding up each new item excitedly before trying on his new traveler's cloak.

Oh boy oh boy oh boy, he thinks. He's excited for the upcoming journey.

[backwaterj]

When the meal has settled down and most people are left picking at a few stray berries or sipping coffee, Neemo stands to address the group with a quick leap onto the head table.
"Ya. So eh! Folks! We gon' call ya up' and holla reeeeal loud!"
"Or, and better yet -" Crouse interjects, "we do this nice and civilized because we aren't outside and we have a few names to go through. When you are called, come on up to the front here. You will receive your grad pack and your certificate. Congratulations, you've made it through Squiretown Two Hundred Eighty!

Lamyria strides up silently to the table, a little shaky perhaps due to the attention of the room being focused on her. Upon receiving her pack and certificate, she bows politely (and perhaps redundantly) before the Academy heads before returning to her place at the table.

Having nothing else of import to do this evening, and an early morning's meditation ahead of her, she heads back toward her quarters with the intention of falling asleep over her books.

[redzimmer]

Sigurd

Awash in the blessing of Kord, Sigurd eats heartily at the banquet and follows the rituals of graduation with great solemnity.

His paper in hand, he is ready to carve his way through the world.

[Edgar Snow]

(In leiu of a big post, for now)

Spoiler: Kimi, Reeve

Show

Reeve, you've been able to follow Jimmy's training as well as the mechical side of the weapon. Kimi, not so much. It takes a little extra assistance (and perhaps some goading from Reeve) for you to finally catch on.
Kimi and Reeve, Light and Heavy Repeating Crossbow are considered martial weapons for you, rather than exotic.

Beyond that, it's off to bed, where everyone gets a full night's rest. To awake with 1 hour before you are supposed to leave Squiretown, you will need to rise at dawn.

[Chilimaggot]

Kurtulnezhad will be rising at dawn, repeating his prayer ritual as before.

[backwaterj]

Lamyria will likewise be rising at dawn, or before if she can manage it.

[redzimmer]

Sigurd

Sigurd rises early as always. The Softlanders have one thing going for them, their beer is a fine alternative to the fermented yak milk his people imbibed. Less tiny demons trying to eat his brain box the next morrow, anyway.

He smiles at his own wit, and hoists his axe. Now blessed by Kord, he could claim what was once his grandfather's as his own.

To take a weapon of someone you did not defeat in combat, nor purchase one's self was to invite bad fortune, as everyone knew.

"Now, to earn your name!" he tells the axe. He straps on his hides and lopes out to meet the day.

[Edgar Snow]

As you all arrive outside the Common building at the center of Squiretown, you find a small group waiting outside: Lt. Crouse, with his new crossbow, standard issue longsword and studded leather armor; Zee, the elven archer, with his Longbow and a very different backpack than your own; Jimmy Jamieson, who seems to have more scroll cases than fingers and toes; Vadania, who some of you recognize as the incredibly shy librarian of the Common Hall's stacks; and finally, a rather lean-looking elf, male, that you do not recognize.

"Well well, good morning everybody, Crouse greets, "We are the first group today, if you don't count the one late last night. Can't imagine what it must be like to see in the dark... But alright now, this is us. Just remember - " he says with a pause, "we, and I mean that as something more than Squiretown, we do our best to keep this road safe, but we make no promises. Stay mindful".

He turns toward the road and begins to take the lead on the walk out of Squiretown.

[backwaterj]

Lamyria joins the assembly, pack-laden and walking stick in hand. She gives a nod to Vadania, who she recognizes from her long hours poring over philosophical and spiritual texts.

"It is . . . somewhat of a surprise to see you," she says softly to the woman as the group gets underway, "but it is a welcome one."

[Chilimaggot]

Kurtulnezhad mutters to himself as he pulls up his hood, wondering why he wasn't assigned to the night group. Must have been a clerical error of some kind, he thinks, pulling the cloth tightly over his eyes for a moment before making his way to the center of the group and keeping pace.