To Chase the Unknown (Adventure)

[frogman55]

Background:

Spoiler

Show

Harbour sits on the north eastern tip of Kahit Na. Set in the mouth of a fjord, Harbour is named after the large and sheltered harbour that have made it an important trading node of the kingdom. Bayani, a cousin of the king, rules the town as well as commands the guard force that patrol Harbour's walls and docks. Most of his family live in the capital to the south, though recently he had his oldest son brought to the city, and has since been sequestered in Bayani's manor among rumors of sickness and disease.

Other mercenaries and transients often travel to Harbour to get work; protecting merchant caravans, chasing barbarians in the north, selling off goods stolen from merchants. The five of you have been working out of Harbour for several years. Freelance jobs and adventures have given all of you a certain noteworthiness and reputation.

You have all worked together escorting a small group of merchants from Harbour to several of the central towns of Kahit Na. The trip was fairly uneventful, the only action any of you saw was dealing with a few small time burglars. However, after the trip all of you like each other and know each other at least well enough to stay in the same party.

The party has just returned to Harbour in the late summer after escorting a small caravan through the mountains from central Kahit Na. As you neared the port town you noticed strange tracks crisscrossing the road with increasing frequency as you neared the town. While the caraven was never bothered by any sort of attack, you have noticed that no travelers have been moving in the opposite direction, despite the oncoming winter in the mountain passes. As you pass the few small farms near the city, you hear a number of rumors: strange lights have been seen in the mountains to the west and none of the woodsman or patrols in the woods and grasslands to the north of the city have returned. Supposedly, none of these events are of any concern to the town guard or the Marshal, Bayani, amid reports and rumors that Bayani's sickly son has been kidnapped. No one really knows the truth of any of these rumors, only that Bayani himself led most of the guard out of the city and into the mountains.

At the docks, where several of the wagons were unloaded, you notice an unusual number of ships in the bay. The dock workers tell you that many ships from the archipelago nation of Dagat having been coming to port, though they haven't been trading, just taking on supplies and setting sail again. After helping (or watching) the merchants unload their inventories back into their warehouses your contracts with them are fulfilled and you find yourselves at loose ends.

[Silverkiss]

Anya Fatebringer

Anya stretches out, looking to the sky of the city. Beautiful clouds, she thinks.

"Home, at last. So, what do you guys think about all these rumours we heard on the way here ? Something pretty strange is happening, don't you think ?" - Anya's emerald eyes glow with curiosity as she speaks, almost like a child - "What do you think about we investigating these rumours ? We just finished our jobs anyway, it's not like there's something keeping us busy."

[juggalotis]

" im all for it, sitting around here isnt going to bring gold to our laps." says lim and he adds with a playful smirk, "and maybe this time we'll actually get a bit of action, exercise for our muscles, and a bonus to our purses"

[stupnick]

Halia

After finishing watching everyone else load the shipments and spending the time 'helping' when she could, she sat down to relax and made herself a small glass of wine. Hearing her friends talking she couldn't help but inject herself in the conversation. "I do believe there are alot of strange things occuring around here. I would wonder myself if they are all tied together in some form or another. As much as I would love to help with all of them we do need to prioritize. It seems we are having problems with strange lights in the mountains and people aren't coming or going. It seems the town guard and patrols have all but dissapeared through the exploration to the north. And it seems that the Marshals son is missing. Now as much as I would be all for helping the child first, the more pressing matter would be the protection of the town. I believe since more people are affected by this, and it just puts the town in danger even more, we should start there.

Finally finished speaking she waits for others to chime in. Taking a small sip of her wine she draws out a few small pieces of dried meat and some bread and picks at them, Famished from all the hard work they just accomplished.

[juggalotis]

Lim takes in Halia word's and looks over to her, "Children arent big spenders. i say we go for the mountains, Mysterious lights usually mean magic. magic items or spellcasters usually bump up ones gold a consideral amount. Id rather have a heavy purse then a 7 year old friend" With that he gets up to fetch himself some water.

[Silverkiss]

Anya Fatebringer

"Hmm, I don't know if the Marshal's son is that young. And even if he is, he still is the Lord's child. Rescuing him can give us some... favors, if you know what I mean. But yes, I do agree that the town comes first, if people are dissapearing, we should investigate what is causing it."

[frogman55]

OOC: General Knowledge Note: Nobody knows much about Bayani's son. He was born in the capital (Kahit Ngayon) and only came to Harbour years after the Marshal arrived. The marshal is in his early 40s, and the son is at least 15 years old. Since arriving, nobody outside of the Marshal and his immediate retainers have seen the boy.

[stupnick]

Halia

"Helping his son? I never suggested that, I just suggested we should help find these missing guards, I don't know about you, but if guards are missing that hints that an attack is coming. If there are no guards to defend the town, that simply means I would have to risk more of my life than I am willing to. I don't want to be the one called upon to defend the town on 'thier' terms. I would rather have a nice solid group of Fodder to take the hits while we work covertly to take them out from behind."

She sits and thinks about the suggestion made by Lim, and then adds "If that is where we would like to start, then I am all for that. It seems that if people can't get in or out of this valley/mountain pass, that really traps people in and would also keep help from arriving from the outside. You can definately tell when the mention of magic is made, it truely sparks her interest.

Finishing her wine, she rinses out the glass with your waterskin and places it back away, and finishes by wrapping up her food. Standing up she brushes off her robe and looks at the others. "Anything we plan on doing, we won't get it accomplished by sitting here. Might as well begin walking towards our goal"

[Silverkiss]

Anya Fatebringer

"You're cruel, Halia, planning to use the guards as fodder." - Anya's tone is serious, but you can see that she is smiling. "Well, as I said, let's investigate these mysterious disspearings first. But, if by the time we finish this 'job' the Lord's son is still missing, it wouldn't harm to find him. He is also a person, after all."

As Halia get's up, Anya checks her things and also prepares to leave. "Yes, yes. I just think we should try and get a little more information before we really set out. I don't really like to needlessly walk into the dark."

[juggalotis]

Lim begins Refastening the buckles on his leather armor " whats the big deal about using them as fodder. the more desperate the situation looks the more gold they will be willing to pay for us to save the day. and i say we head out to the lights right now. Before someone beats us to it"

Lim starts busying himself packing his kit and strapping on his magical khopesh. then chimes right back in looking at anya "and im sure you wouldn't want someone discovering all the mysteries before you now would you?" Lim finished and threw her a sly grin.

[Silverkiss]

Anya Fatebringer

Anya simply smiles at Lim's comment, and bows her head in agreement. "Very well. Let us meet in the city gates in... an hour. I will try to find more information until then. I'll go ask my mentor and look for more rumours. See ya."

OOC:

Spoiler

Show

Anya will go ask her mentor about these strange lights and dissapearances, and also look around the city's most frequented taverns and inns for more information about what is happening.

Streetwise Check - (1d20+6)[20]

[frogman55]

No body knows about the strange lights in the mountains, even though everybody has seen them. They almost look like bonfires, only multicolored. You do manage to get the name of a wizard, Palagay, who supposedly hiked and climbed to the site of one of these lights, but he hasn't told anybody anything except that he had found it.

O O O O O O O O O O

Anya's mentor, Aziz, the Head Priest of the Twilight Princess in Harbour, is a very old man. He wears a loose silvered hood over his unadorned grey robe. He smiles, happy to see his student again after Anya's long journey, and they spend some time catching up. When she mentions the rumors about the disappearing men to the north he frowns, and grows quiet for several minutes.

The first woodsmen who got lost were nearly unnoticed, the woods on the Northern Steppes are dangerous and wild, and they could have fallen to any number of threats. However, starting in the spring fewer and fewer of the hunters and wood cutters came home. A small group of woodsmen and warriors from the Destined Guild were hired by Bayani to find out what was going on, but they never returned. Since those men went out, nobody has come back from the north. Even the barbarians that used to come to trade and carouse have stopped coming.

I do know one thing that isn't common knowledge. A few of the woodsmen who never returned were members of this congregation. Along with a few other priests, I attempted to divine their fates. It is clear that they are no longer in the mortal coil, but neither have they continued on the the comfort of our Princess.

[Silverkiss]

Anya Fatebringer

"I see... What strange events. Me and my companions are thinking about investigating these dissapearances. There is clearly an unnatural cause to them, and if it binds even the souls of those that fall, it could bring some serious problems. Oh yes, when I was looking for information on the city, I heard about a wizard named Palagay. Do you know anything about him, Master ?"

OOC:

Spoiler

Show

Information about this Destined Guild in the OOC thread would be apreciated, if my character knows about it in-game.

[frogman55]

I don't know that name. He is certainly not an initiate here.

ooc:

Spoiler

Show

check out Naz'Tharath's background for the Destined guild.

[Silverkiss]

Anya Fatebringer

"Right... I heard rumours that he climbed to one of the strange places of light to the west and returned. Maybe those are connected to the dissapearences to the North... Well, I may seek him out for advice, but I don't know. I need to speak with my friends before. Speaking of them, I better get going, they are waiting for me. It was great seeing you again, Master. May the Princess watch over your way." - With a respectful bow, Anya leaves the temple, heading for the city gates, where she would meet the party.

---

Arriving at the city gates, Anya waves for the party. She smiles as they see her, and gives a quick run to meet with them.

"Hey guys, listen to this. I didn't find much information, but I did find something interesting. There seems to be a wizard named Palagay who suposedly climbed to one of these light sites and returned, although he refuses to talk about it to anyone. Maybe these light sites are connected to the dissapearances to the north, huh ? What do you think, should we search him for advice ?"

[frogman55]

<Successful passive perception and insight check>

While at the town gates, as well as while finishing their contracts with the merchants, you notice that other wagons and travelers seem to be leaving the city as usual, with wagons of goods traveling into Kahit Na as usual.

[Sty2000]

if it's allright i'll start out away from the rest of the group in the Destined guild in an argument with Palagay?

"For the last time! These occurances are getting more and more frequent; and you act as if they are just another random act of bandits or orcs; Dissappearing children, Strange lights. and the strange increase in the local activity of aggressive creatures....if you know something tell me now or get out!!!" Naz'Tharoth stated nearly shouting at the top of his lungs, even a good ten yards away from the destined guild it was obvious he was infuriated by the guild's newest refugee; who not only acted suspiciously, he acted as if he had the right to take advantage of the services the guild had to offer.

[frogman55]

Intimidation roll:

Spoiler

Show

(d20+11)[21]

"I already gave you the map to that shrine in the mountains! I've told you everything I know. There is something in those mountains that I do not want to deal with. That shrine... It doesn't matter! I'm leaving, and if you were wise you'd do the same."

Palagay whirls and leaves the room.

[Sty2000]

heading over to my desk i look at the map, wondering what sort of shrine could possibly be causing such horrid and alien effects on this area. "the shrine appears to be in the location of an old altar dedicated to a long dead god...one who's name has been forgotten, no harm in looking" Naz'Tharoth sighed looking at the hastily drawn map as he watched Palagay leave the room readily, it was obvious he was perturbed by whatever it was up there; whatever it was, it was too dangerous for a novice wizard to handle alone.

[juggalotis]

The ranger is waiting for his companians at the gate. while doing so he scans the mountains in the distance seeing if he can spot any of the mysterious lights and more importantly anything odd about them.

perception roll to notice the lights and anything unusual about them (1d20+10)[29]

[frogman55]

Naz' could hear Palagay stomping throughout the guild, still shouting. He was obviously upset--but not just anger came through in the shouts: Palagay was clearly fearful as well. He was still shouting about gods, zealots, and murderers, and the need to leave Harbour as soon as possible. Before long, Palagay had reached the stables, taken his horse, and was off.

O O O O O O

Even with the sharpest and closest inspection, there is nothing visible at the moment in the mountains.

[juggalotis]

knowing we are to meet within an hour Lim takes some time to scout out any places of interest along the path. staying within distance to be back at the town gate to meet people.

basically looking to see if there would be a better trail to follow to have the surprising drop on the enemies if there are any.

[Sty2000]

ooc:double post

---

* post roll count doesn't match database

[Sty2000]

upon hearing palagay's shouting i begin to worry; a group of my members had been contracted to investigate the northern area. and if palagay had reason to believe that the town was doomed even with the guild, then i have reason to believe my men are in mortal danger...
heading up to a balcony i search for any signs of unusual activity

Spoiler

Show

[roll]d20+5[/roll]

ooc:(if anyone remembers it was 15... i'm just trying to figure out why a d20 always gets a freaking 10 for me..edit:apparantly on the first of the two double posts it was 24 with bonus if possible i'd like to use that roll)

---

* post roll count doesn't match database

[stupnick]

Halia

Showing up at the gate, Halia looks as if to be preoccupied by something. She waits for everyone else to show up, and just sits on the side of the road.

[frogman55]

Nature check:

Spoiler

Show

(d20+10)[14]

@ Juggalotis: While scouting outside the gate, Lim finds more of the tracks that they found on their way in the town, but no signs of anything else.

Perception check:

Spoiler

Show

[roll]d20+5[/roll]

[frogman55]

Perception check:

Spoiler

Show

(d20+5)[18]

@Sty: From the roof of the guild, Naz' sees only the normal motion of the city. In the distance he sees the dust trails of a couple caravans leaving south over the horizon; and at sea he sees an unusual number of ships coming and going in the bay.

[Sty2000]

I immedeatly begin closing my guild; making sure that no new contracts come in; and informing members that they have leave until further notice; as well as telling refugees that the safest place to go would most likely be a town further along the road to the east. after that is done, i lock up my guild and place a notice that the guild is closed due to recent events until further notice...and begin heading to the northern reaches of town hoping to find traces of the detatchment.

Spoiler

Show

streetwise check:
(D20+6)[13]
perception check
(D20+5)[21]

[frogman55]

@Sty: While you don't hear anything about any of your men, you do notice a few adventurers at the northern gate. You recognize the group, as they have been working out of Harbour for some time. You approach the group at about the same time as Lim & Anya return (from outside and from the temple, respectively).

ooc: Like how I synced up every bodies arrival?

[Sty2000]

ooc:yes it fits very well with everything....

"Excuse me, i am in a bit of a situation that requires some assistance" i state to the group of adventurers; knowing that something somewhere is going awry it's a rather concerning issue as i had to shut down my guild to prevent other dissapearances from happening.... when i questioned a man who calls himself palagay he seemed extremely disturbed by what he had witnessed...and when he left he was shouting about goings on such as murders and the like...all i have is a map to a shrine and it's my only way if finding out what happened to my guild members...i know i can't do it alone" I say hoping that the group of adventurers would take pity on my cause at the least and help me locate my comerades they were novices and new at the job; it would have been easy to catch them off guard..