[IC] Dark Spire [AD&D 2nd edition]

[roryb]

DARK SPIRE

A play by post set in the Forgotten Realms game world, and using Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, 2nd Edition.

Players
Cyber, playing Norak, NG dm Fighter (Outcast)
roryb, GM

OOC thread.
Recruitment thread.

[roryb]

Highharvestide, Year of the Banner

A crisp northern breeze scented by an early autumn granted a momentary reprise from the offal, dung, and sweat from Scornubel’s expansive paddocks. In the early evening, rutted and beaten earth roads teemed with all manner of folk. Teamsters, tradesmen, dock and ferry workers, foreign and resident merchants, as well as dangerous sell-swords of all colors and from all corners of the Realms packed the dusty streets. The russet seasonal colors were almost gone and had nearly left the surrounding woods barren so early in the season. A recent cold snap also threatened to throttle the year’s trade several weeks early.

The Caravan City was little more than a few proper timber and stone buildings surrounded by a convolution of haphazardly placed animal pens and warehouses. A major stop at the confluence of the River Reaching and the great shining Chionthar where the Trade Way made for points further north, it was normally bustling and chaotic at any point during the trade season. However, the pall of anxiousness tingled amongst its visitors and denizens tangibly — one not explained away merely by troubling merchant ledgers or an uncommonly truncated trade season.

Bandit raiders and inhuman tribal marauders, striking both land and river expeditions between Scornubel and Iriaebor, had the already apprehensive coster partners in a panic. Terrific losses of men and goods had them stricken. Rumors that a warlord or wizard was behind the organized and overwhelming attacks caused further paranoia such that they could scarcely drum up enough replacements to adequately man new expeditions. Many had to be cancelled outright, exacerbating he issue. Even the officials in Scornubel, it was said, feared for some direct nighttime incursion. Normally, the stopover city enjoyed the protection afforded it from the resident trading costers and the numerous swords they employed. However, they had few resources, and good fighting men were scarce. The iron shortage of the Sword Coast further intensified the desperation among the echelon of merchant-lords.

After several months apart, three unlikely friends had conspired to reunite at Jalla’s Scurrilous Festhall, one of Scornubel’s wild and illicit nighteries — one that might overlook one of iniquitous or dubious character.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

That’s to set the mood. Although you are all generally do-gooders if you’re connected to the Harpers, you are not recommended nor expected to follow a particular course of action or follow an exact stricture. Go off the beaten path should you choose. Go for the unconventional or antithetical. You won’t break anything. I’m not using an established module or detailed storyline. It’s just a setup and I’ll likely pull at the threads you’ve provided. This is about your characters more than anything.

Introduce your characters. You can speak their thoughts and inward attitudes, mention recent accomplishments, or whatever passing thoughts they have, but always include something to which your fellow players may react. We can have some banter here to express your interrelationships. You’ve all adventured together before.

Feel free also to introduce contacts here. @Cyber has mentioned Johnathan Silverblade as a Harper contact as well as Ander Underbough, a halfling peddler. If you want any of your contacts to be here, that’s fine. Assume that your character *believes* they are in town if it serves you.

I’m assuming you’re all invested somewhat in the crisis, but you don’t have to be if you’d rather use one of your backstory hooks to create a side plot element that’s a stronger issue for your character.

I’m also assuming since Filaufen doesn’t have his pin yet, he hasn’t a firm idea of what he’s *supposed* to do. He can safely assume he’s under observation. Harpers need to be self-sufficient and resourceful after all. However, assume he’s going to get open hostility almost everywhere he’s not known unless he’s under disguise.