DM Darkshard's Swift Kills

[Darkshard]

~Competition~

("The Red Ink of Black Tenday" Part Eight)

Characters Involved:
Kage
Gold
Silhouette

Synopsis:
The thieves set out once more to switch the warehouse goods before the second convoy departed. This time, the warehouse guards Keller and Kelhort were both on payroll, so getting rid of them for the night proved an easy task. Security in the warehouse had not been beefed up since the last switch, indicating no one was yet the wiser. They employed the same method as last time to mark the traps and swap out the goods as quickly as possible.

However, when the job was almost done, the door lookout reported three men approaching; Redleaf Jake, Coppertop Harrald and Marion Fivetimes. They were neither Fist nor private guards, instead having the look of unguilded thugs who had been tipped off about the job. Silhouette attempted to distract the trio and get them to leave, but her attempts failed and Kage was forced to kill them, surmising they would have met a similar fate sooner or later at the Guild's hands. The bodies were secured to weights and dumped in the harbour.

The job was completed but Kage wanted to discover where the tip had come from. He and Silhouette followed Kelhort and Keller respectively, after their shifts had finished. Keller went home only to discover his scornful wife had locked him out. Kelhort, on the other hand, went to see the loanshark Nolon. Kage listened from the shadows and discovered Kelhort had tipped off Nolon out of desperation to clear his debt, and Nolon had sent the three men to collect. Kage appeared and set about terrorising the two men. He shut down the loanshark business, took all the "business" records and all the money Nolon had with him, and shattered Nolon's hand.

Kage left satisfied that the competition had been broken.

[Darkshard]

~Green Betrayal~

("Blood and Jealousy" Part Six)

Characters Involved:
Andros Dragosyon
Eden Qradyos
Hoihe Dacino
Laitae Lafreth
Syrum
Valge Kylm

Synopsis:
Hoihe gathered with friends and allies in the Baldur's Gate farmlands and was joined also by his master, Kifel Silverstone. Kifel explained that a green dragon had taken up residence to the north around Thundar's Ride, after the Tiamat Crisis. Kifel emphasised the importance of quelling a threat over taking a trophy, and the group set off north.

Initial attempts to bait the dragon out proved unsuccessful, though the group did manage to attract bandits more than once. However they eventually picked up a trail of acidic scorch marks and blood that lead them to the water cave. Noting that greens sought such caves as lairs, the group proceeded inside.

It was not long until they found the green dragon. Hoihe spoke to it in Draconic and was able to arouse its curiosity enough that it did not attack on sight. However, Hoihe's attempts at diplomacy were disastrous, and others in the group did not fare much better. The dragon seemed to find their boldness utterly amusing, frequently bursting out into what passes for hysterical dragon laughter and replying with overplayed theatrical sarcasm that no one seemed to detect, though everyone was uneasy. The dragon apparently agreed to leave the farmlands alone and feed only off the bandits in the hills, and supplied a green scale to boot.

Most of the group left still feeling uneasy, but Andros and Syrum insisted on remaining behind to have a final word with the dragon. No one knows exactly what transpired, but moments later the dragon burst from the cave and attacked the party out in the open, bellowing "So amusing!" in its own tongue. The group reacted quickly and fought fiercely, and the dragon was slain after a long battle. The party rushed back into the lair to find the charred bodies of Andros and Syrum, whom they managed to heal up to a degree.

Eden wanted to defile the dragon corpse, but the others strongly objected, and Kifel teleported the body away before he had his chance.

Rewards/Punishments: Decent xp and gold for all, diamonds from the dragon's hoard.

[Hoihe]

I daresay Eden was the only... "normal" guy in the group... as in the guy with normal thinking (Hey! let's get rich easily!)

[Darkshard]

~Lagging Behind~

("The Red Ink of Black Tenday" Part Nine)

Characters Involved:
Amenia
Andros Dragosyon
Auron
Elvina Aira-S'efarro
Haeman
Herran Hymm
Hespion Marsh
Imperax
Jake
Kestral Fyle
Krumarth Sorth
Luthien Aelorothi
Mara Senneman
Mendel
Pate
Segori Val-Naar
Seth Siger
Shialla Shi'arroh
Svala Yngvildr
Teo
Tharxos Kyros
Tyn Silverbeard
Uriel Honorblade

Synopsis:
The second Merchant's League convoy and its escort gathered in the farmlands. This time the convoy was going to split up, with the most experienced escort taking the more dangerous road through the Fields of the Dead and the Troll Claw Hills. The convoy began rolling with the front, rear and flanks all well defended.

As anticipated, the first ambush awaited them in the Fields of the Dead. A brush fire was started upwind of them and used to drive the convoy off the road and into the waiting pincer by the bandits. The escort attacked aggressively, smashing the pincer and pressing back to the road and past the roaring flames. However, after this initial success, the escort began to struggle and, with most of them fighting as individuals, they began to take casualties. A chaotic defence led to them engaging the bandits amidst the wagons they were trying to protect and all of the horses were slain in the ensuing chaos, possibly from friendly fire. Nevertheless, they persevered through the fields and into the hills and canyons beyond.

When they got to the river, they found the far bank barricaded and fortified by the bandits. Under heavy arrow fire, they were forced to retreat with the wagons and regroup. After several disorganised (individual) charges, a final push managed to break through the barricade and the last of the bandit resistance was crushed.

The cost was high, but the second convoy managed to rendezvous with the first and continue on to Waterdeep.

Rewards/Punishments: Decent xp and gold to all. Lag and frustration.

[Darkshard]

Black Tenday Part Five, "The Switch", and Part Eight, "Competition", both made public.

[Darkshard]

~The Right Tree~

("The Coulter Indictment" Part Six)

Characters Involved:
Laitae Lafreth
Mealir Ostirel

Synopsis:
On their second attempt to track down the alleged Malarite cult in the farmlands, one and a half elves sought Alistar Morely whom they heard had a shrine to the Beastlord in his barn. They ran into Mikey and his cow, Mooey, and learned that Alistar was the child's neighbour. They approached him posing as refugees from the city and seeking shelter for the night. Alistar was wary of the strangers but agreed to help them. He took them to the barn and gave them a truly horrible blanket.

Once he was gone, the pair searched the barn and found the small, hand-carved shrine stashed in a lonely hay bale. They left it out in the open and hid until morning, waiting to see Alistar's reaction to it. When he came he looked predictably shocked to see his shrine had been discovered, and he re-hid it in the field outside. There the pair confronted him, and after a tense exchange and some calming reassurance from the pair, he invited them inside his house to talk in private.

Inside the house, they found Grandma Morley and Evey Winter, who was visiting. Grandma was apparently deranged, proclaiming herself to the leader of the cult and announcing that the Beastlord would smite the others present for their blasphemy. Alistar promptly removed her from the room, the four remaining discussed the spread of Malar's influence. Evey told them of two families in particular who had been oddly reclusive and absent from the community archery training; the Renfrows and the Setters. She offered to help the pair talk to them provided she could come along, and that anyone they confronted was presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

Rewards/Punishments: A lead.

[Darkshard]

~Brass Bard~

("Blood and Jealousy" Part Seven)

Characters Involved:
Hoihe Dacino

Synopsis:
Hoihe found his mentor, Kifel, arguing with a Fist on the edge of the Fields of the Dead. He swiftly extracted him, and the pair journeyed north together in search of a brass dragon apparently living in the dry hills.

A little way into the canyonous Troll Claws, they began looking for a decent echo and, upon finding one, Hoihe began to sing at his mentor's instruction. Hoihe knew only an elven song but he hazarded singing in Draconic and it proved sufficient to get the dragon's attention. The great brass approached, drawn to the music, and introduced himself as Jilnpel, "the Brass Bard". They conversed at length, both parties obviously enjoying the encounter, and Jilnpel made Hoihe a deal: a tale for a tale, and he would also give Hoihe a scale for his shrine.

The dragon arguably got more than he bargained for as Hoihe proceeded to tell his entire life story from when he was a young child until the present day, detailing all of his considerable adventures in between. They talked for days but the dragon listened as only a dragon can, and appeared to hang on every word. Kifel, on the other hand, seemed to doze off.

When Hoihe's story finally reached its conclusion, the dragon adjourned their meeting, telling Hoihe to return in a couple of days to hear Jilnpel's reply tale.

Rewards/Punishments: Exhausted DM.

[Hoihe]

Well yes, Hoihe maybe indeed has a drop of brass blood now only if he could breathe a mix of fire and ice .

The result of almost 1 year of BGtscc time's tale : Darkshard exhausted.

[Darkshard]

~Red Revelation~

("Blood and Jealousy" Part Eight)

Characters Involved:
Hoihe Dacino

Synopsis:
Hoihe returned to see the Brass Bard Jilnpel and hear his reply tale. With considerable enthusiasm and flare, Jilnpel shared the tale of the mighty and ancient Red Dragon, Raugarathis, and his war of revenge against a Silver clan led by a similarly old and powerful dragon named Nuwa'jimos. Jilnpel told of how, in the wake of his defeat at the hands of the Silver clan, Raugarathis turned to Tiamat and it was She who told him to build a cult of disciple followers and infiltrate the enemy clan. Jilnpel told of how one of his agents had been near to this goal when an apprentice Dragon Warrior got in the way. It was at this point in the story that Hoihe finally realised it was his tale also, that the infiltrator was his own former clan brother, Ashalon, and that Nuwa'jimos was the clan Elder he had met following Sarah's tragic death.

Needless to say, this came as both a shock and a sudden burden to Hoihe, to learn of the ancient struggle in which he was entwined. Jilnpel gave him counsel and told him to wear this history as a badge of honour. He offered a Brass scale for the shrine, and asked Hoihe to return one day and tell him how the story ends.

Rewards/Punishments: Lots of xp, a story twist.

[Darkshard]

Blood and Jealousy Part Two, "Red Vendetta", now made public.

[Hoihe]

Finaly!!

[Darkshard]

~On Side~

("The Red Ink of Black Tenday" Part Ten)

Characters Involved:
James White

Synopsis:
A carriage stopped near James White as he strolled through the East Gate District and Jhasso stepped out. His greeting was more amiable than in the past. He cautioned James about wandering the streets alone at night, and offered him a ride. James accepted, but the carriage instead took them both to the Ducal Palace. James became both more excited and more nervous as he realised what was going on. They entered the Palace and climbed many flights of stairs before coming to a guarded door in the "Policy Wing".

Jhasso quickly briefed James on proper etiquette and address, and then announced him. Waiting inside the room was Grand Duke Entar Silvershield, amidst many tomes and scrolls containing vast amounts of economic data. Jhasso left the two to their discussion and excused himself.

Entar was at first surprised by James' bold manner and fairly direct way of talking, but the two got along well enough. Entar congratulated James on his success with the City Relief Committee, but also put it into perspective and enlarged James' view of problems faced by the city. The two agreed on several points of mutual cooperation, and Entar committed to lend one of his own advisors to the City Relief Committee to help direct their efforts.

Rewards/Punishments: Decent xp, the possibility of a fruitful relationship.

[Darkshard]

~Trail of the Cult~

("The Coulter Indictment" Part Seven)

Characters Involved:
Laitae Lafreth
Mealir Ostirel

Synopsis:
Having picked up the trail of the Malarite cult, Laitae and Mealir met up with Evey Winter and scoped out the Renfrow cabin in the woods on the eastern edge of the farmlands. With Evey and Mealir watching from a nearby hill, Laitae had a look around under an invisibility spell and found a few clues. As she reported back, a drunken man stumbled up to the house, wailing for David Renfrow to come and face him.

David soon emerged from the house and confronted the man, whom the trio learned was named Rosco Setter. They listened to the conversation, which suggested the Renfrows had a hand in abducting the Setter children on behalf of the cult; David declared they were now "Children of the Hunt". He said the children would die if Rosco continued his tirade, and he soon left, defeated.

The trio conferenced and decided to follow Rosco and try and talk to him. They managed to head him off near his house in the farmlands and get him to talk. They learned that Rosco's wife, Jessi, had fallen in with the Malarite conspiracy while he had been in jail and, with Evey's help, they convinced him to let them speak to her. They all headed to his home and found a distraught Jessi, pointlessly washing children's clothes insisting "they would be home soon". It took a huge group effort at collective diplomacy, but they eventually managed to convince Jessi that they could help, that they could save the children, but only if she cooperated fully. She was not easily persuaded through her guilt and grief, but finally conceded and told them where and when the cult would next meet.

Evey resolved to accompany Mealir and Laitae in their confrontation with the cult, promising to see this through to the end.

Rewards/Punishments: Gold in lieu of xp.

[Hoihe]

~Red Revelation~

("Blood and Jealousy" Part Eight)

Characters Involved:
Hoihe Dacino

Synopsis:
Hoihe returned to see the Brass Bard Jilnpel and hear his reply tale. With considerable enthusiasm and flare, Jilnpel shared the tale of the mighty and ancient Red Dragon, Raugarathis, and his war of revenge against a Silver clan led by a similarly old and powerful dragon named Nuwa'jimos. Jilnpel told of how, in the wake of his defeat at the hands of the Silver clan, Raugarathis turned to Tiamat and it was She who told him to build a cult of disciple followers and infiltrate the enemy clan. Jilnpel told of how one of his agents had been near to this goal when an apprentice Dragon Warrior got in the way. It was at this point in the story that Hoihe finally realised it was his tale also, that the infiltrator was his own former clan brother, Ashalon, and that Nuwa'jimos was the clan Elder he had met following Sarah's tragic death.

Needless to say, this came as both a shock and a sudden burden to Hoihe, to learn of the ancient struggle in which he was entwined. Jilnpel gave him counsel and told him to wear this history as a badge of honour. He offered a Brass scale for the shrine, and asked Hoihe to return one day and tell him how the story ends.

Rewards/Punishments: Lots of xp, a story twist.

Playerside continuation while Darkshard is away: Aribahamutdarastrixarytissi of the Swordcoast.