DM Seren's Crystalline events

[[DM] Seren]

Welcome Mortal, to the realm of Light and Life

I had remained hidden for centuries now, acting without a dogma or representation in the mortal world. Heists and rescues, raising and destruction of undead have all fallen beneath my influence, but the events were rarely chronicled, after the first ones were noticed. It has been decided that such is to be no more, and I have Chosen me a Loyal Servant, who shall spread my Teachings and Chronicle my Champions Deeds', even if they know not of the Influence of Light and Resourcefulness.

I have... but a few requirements for those who stumble upon my influence in the world.

• Act with consideration, but act! Do not rush headlong into conflict, unless the wisdom is lacking,but neither be afraid to do anything.
• Live with your strengths, but also make note of your weaknesses. Who knows, the resourceful may even turn a weakness into an advantage
• Use what you have, even if it is not represented by the world of Ones and Zeros - pickaxes, shovels, brooms... trees... Ten foot poles - you name it!
• There is strength in numbers, and it's easier to find the Influence of Resources and Light if travelling in a group of two to six. Too many, however, causes even the brightest star to appear dim.
• Be initiative, and propose paths I did not mention. Propose paths, I did not even think of. Propose paths, which I did not even make (aka, feel free to send me event requests if I log on, but I favour parties of 4-6 to solo requests or mass requests)

[[DM] Seren]

Pilgrimage of three Helmites and a sermon

Date:

23/08/2014

PC participants:
The Everwatch Knights
Wai Li
Sveta Asperan [PiaMang]
Others:
Elaria
A few others who had noticed the Sermon and stayed to listen and see what was going on

NPC participants:

William Ferguson:
A guardsman aboard an "exploration vessel". Helmite pilgrim.
Lorne Tharn:
A Flaming Fist Guardsman. Helmite pilgrim.
Abdul:
A Calimshanite sellswords. Helmite pilgrim
André of Helm:
The old priest of Helm who had presided over the Sermon.

Summary:

The three Helmites met with the priest of the Temple of Helm within Baldur's Gate from whom they learned of two paladins travelling south to Nashkell, a mining town that holds a special place for Helmites due to the House of the Guardian and the rumour that Helm himself appeared to protect it.

The Helmites introduced themselves to the paladins, each in his own way. They spoke for a while, getting along quite well despite their differences. As they spoke, a Guardsman of the Flaming Fist left his post to greet his friend, Lorne. Although they greeted each other in a brotherly fashion, the guardsman was chastised by Lorne for abandoning his post. The paladins learned of Lorne serving the Flaming fist, as he was off-duty and not wearing the uniform at the time, and tales were exchanged.

On the way out of the city, William and Abdul got into an argument over sell swords and their reliability. The argument was quickly settled by Wai Li and the rest of the road passed without anything of note

In the meantime...,

André of Helm was given permission to hold a Sermon at the holy spot where Helm's avatar came. He spent quite a few hours setting up, making sure all the candles were place just right. As he worked, people gathered to see what was happening and they were explained that a sermon is to be held. Many left, but still enough remained. There were Helmites, dwarves, halflings and farmers in the crowd, each for their own reason to attend. The guardsmen gathered as well, on paper to protect the tent, but many were interested in the sermon itself.

A black skinned halfling with an eyepatch came running past only to later join and listen in. She had asked one of her kin about what was going on and was explained in a friendly, although hushed fashion.

As luck would have it, the Helmite pilgrims and their escort arrived just before the preparations were finished. They had came to merely visit the holy site but ended up learning about the heroes of Nashkell, its hardships and of Helm's Vigilance. They were told that Helm watches out for his followers, with Nashkell being one of the prime examples. The sermon began and ended with a prayer that sought to spread the priest's interpretation of the Great Guardian.

When the Sermon had ended, the helmite knights presiding with the priest carried away the carved altar that depicted Helm's coming and the paladins approached the priest. Eventually, the pilgrims met and were granted hospitality for the night. Before they parted, though, they put together some coin and awarded the knights for accompanying them.

Reward was based on time spent in attendance and how actively they participated.
Gold was given to level 30s.
XP ranged from 100-800 based on length and activity.

[[DM] Seren]

The smelly delivery and the orcen blockade.

Date:

26/08/2014

PC participants:

• Deshrah Asher
• Hinzel Mann (Joined quarter-way)
• Kal Shadowhand
• Liam

NPC participants:

• Hunter Harrow
• Samuel Feldepost III
• Basil Merroweather

Summary:

Synposis:

A large group of people sat at the campfire right outside the Belching Dragon Inn, exchanging words and pleasantries. The Hunter, currently taking a break from his hunting and scouting, made an off-hand comment about the congregation.

He soon found himself to be a center of attention and thus, engaged with the foreigners. Eventually, as he walked over to the bridge to watch the small waterfalls of the river that runs through Nashkell, Desrah Asher approached him, asking for a job.

The Hunter was reluctant at first, but the woman soon convinced him to part with some of his coin. The hunter did give her a job: the delivery of a truly smelly bag of giant toes to his friend, Samuel Feldepost III in Beregost.

Desrah Asher gathered her companions, Liam the bard, Hinzel Mann and Kal Shadowhand. As the hunter told them he needs some time to properly pack up the package, they went to have some drinks.

Meanwhile...,

An orcen chieftain, driven out from his ancestral lands, led his remaining followers to South of Beregost. Having successfully raided a few caravans before, capturing siege equipment and even a clay golem, he thought he had had the most brilliant plan to ever grace the mind of an orc. His followers were doubtful, but a quick show of superiority and one less follower got the rest into ranks.

They've set up a barricade on the road between Nashkell and Beregost, about ten miles south of the Ruins of Ulcaster, and waited for a caravan to pass.

The encounter:

The couriers travelled for a long time. Their journey was not uneventful for carrion birds, wolves and other predators, scavengers tried to nick the bag of giant toes from them. These particular toes were especially smelly, causing Desrah's eyes to water and be unable to see but a few feet ahead of her. Luckily for the troupe, her companions' eyes were much keener.

Before they could be ambushed by the orcs, Liam and Kal noticed buildings and movement on the road ahead, prompting them to take refugee. As it was night time, they avoided detection. Brainstorming soon began as the group hoped to find out what exactly was ahead of them and how to best deal with it.

Due to their sharp ears and careful scouting, they have come to learn it was orcs lying in wait for the unsuspecting traveller that served as their challenge.

A plan was soon cracked. Hinzel climbed the ridge to take care of the orcs hoping to flank them. Kal drew close and aimed his bow at the chieftain. Desrah came even closer as she planned to sneak in and take quick care of the opposition. And Liam, Liam used his bardic magic to create the illusion of a platoon of dwarves charging the orcs from behind.

Their plan had worked. The orcen watch was disabled and the dwarven platoon distracted the grunts long enough for the chieftain to die. Due to this, they were much easier to defeat than they appeared at first sight. A franctic orc or another grabbed the catapults and set them off as he noticed arrows flying from down the road, hoping to hit the assailant.

But their efforts were in vain and all of the orcs soon laid dead, including their pet golem. Hinzel sabotaged the siege equipment so that it may not be used again and his companions collected the gold that the orcs had stashed away.

On their way to Beregost a few more bandits and rogues attacked, bugbears and trolls to be particular. Neither was much of a challenge and the party continued on disturbed only by more pesky animals.

Conclusion:

In Beregost, they handed over the package to a much disturbed Samuel, who cursed his chef for the weird ingredients he orders. Desrah pressed the issue and soon got a thousand gold for each in her troupe, totalling four thousand gold handed to her to distribute.





Rewards:
1500 XP to all participants below level 30
4000 Gold paid for the delivery, to be distributed amongst the players by themselves.

[[DM] Seren]

Don't put your hand in a chest with teeth!

Date:

27/08/2014

PC participants:

• Tarya
• Bunar

NPC participants:

• The Mimic

Summary:

Synposis:

A pair of deep dwarves set out from Ssamath to make some money.

Meanwhile...,

The Stonespear goblin tribe got tired of all the drow and other raiders coming to their cavern to steal what belongs to them. To fix the issue, the newest chieftain elected a group of goblins to capture worgs for taming.

As the goblins went about capturing their worgs, they brought home quite peculiar chest.

The Encounter:

As soon as the goblin tribe learned of the dwarven intruders, they sent out the worg riders to quickly deal with them. Unbeknownst to the goblins, the pair of dwarves were more than a match to even the entire battalion.

The chieftain, deciding to take matters into his own hands and gain more followers, went to battle the dwarves with his bodyguards. The battle was tough, but they duergar prevailed.

Typical of "nobility", the chieftain carried enough gold with him to fill the pockets of the dwarves, but it did not sate their greed.

As they delved deeper, they came across goblins trying to tame worgs. Unfortunately, the beasts were smarter than them and killed their "overlords", but were quickly put down by the duergar.

It was as if nothing could stop them.

Then, as they were busy observing a vein of ore, lamenting it going to waste, a chest snuck up behind them.

The dwarves spent quite some time playing with the mimic, who played along, accepting their gold and duplicating it to push their greed over the edge.

Conclusion:

Bunar eventually put his hand beneath the lid and the mimic struck. After a very difficult encounter, worthy of a tavern tale, the duergar came out on top. Gold spilled from the gut of the beast and its lid rolled off.

The lid remained in good condition and with some work, it may serve as a special utility shield.

Rewards:
800 XP
6 piles of gold.

[[DM] Seren]

Those supports are there for a reason.

Date:

6/09/2014

PC participants:

Quinath
Ashe Hathrone
Sestian Dragonbane (late-comer)

NPC participants:

Nashkell Iron mine inhabitants

Summary:

Synposis:

A pair of monks set out to explore the Iron Mines next to Nashkell. They expected it to be a routine clearance, as they have done so many times.

Unfortunately for them, in the meanwhile...

The orogs have grown tired of adventurers breaching their fortifications so easily, thus they set up barricades and prepared catapults to intercept hostile travellers.

Deeper within...

A runemaster created a small cadre of spider golems made out of scrap metal

And at the end...

The pit fiend on the other side of the gate recruited a large army of hellhounds, hell cats and even turned a half-fiend to his service, in addition to his already existing retinue of erinyes.

The Encounter:

The monks were taken by surprise and hailed by countless rocks and bolts as they tried to breach their way through the heavy barricades. Even after they succeeded, they ignored the catapult and its handler to rush the orogs up top.

Although they defeated the fortress, due to leaving the catapult to the last, they spent quite some time almost getting crushed by heavy boulders.

Deeper in they split up temporarily and quinath encountered a gilded chest. Unlike the greedy dwarves from yore, he managed avoid getting his hand trapped within the mimic. None the less, a small battle erupted which he won. His rewards included gold and dwarven hands.

Even deeper, Quinath was ambushed by a crazed Runemaster bellowing for his spiders to rip him apart. Luckily for him, he soon moved to shut the master down, deactivating the golems that belonged to him.

On the way to the depths, they fought countless rock beasts who have destabilized the cavern, causing rockslides and collapses all over. Fortunately for them, being monks, they managed to pass the obstacles without a hitch.

Conclusion:

The monks joined each other before the final stretch and fought their way through fire and hell. With the instability of the tunnels, the fire spewed forth from the ground by the pit fiend, the fire demon and even that little stretch before. If it hadn't been for their beyond-human reflexes, it was sure they would fall and burn to death.

From more collapses to burning bats, elementals accompanied by a hail of fire, they sure faced a heavy opposition to the pit fiend.

The final encounter was truly fit for an epic ballad. Although Ashe was downed early, the pit fiend did not appear to want to kill him once he noticed his heritage... as if he had plans for him. Quinath fought bravely. Although he at first fell for the distraction that the hell hounds and cats served, he soon learned to just focus on the pit fiend.

Unfortunately for him, this tactic proved false when the half-fiend appeared from the gates, proceeding to heal her master. Instead of shutting her down, he continued to strike at the pit fiend, letting his work go to waste as its wounds and bruises healed.

Winning through sheer attrition, and the fact that the half-fiend and hounds, cats weren't fast enough to dodge the lava spitting at them, Quinath came to find the heavily injured body of his friend. Grabbing him, he left without touching the treasure.

On the way out, after getting Ashe up on his feet, they had to hurry as collapsing ceilings lined the way ahead of them. To further the danger, Ashe's hands were in terrible pain from the fight with the Pit Fiend, forcing him to use his legs to fight. As a monk who specialized in using kamas, this hindrance was quite real.


Never the less, although they had a dragon slayer tag along by accident, they made it out to safety.

The Iron Mines were nigh impossible to re-enter, but knowing the work ethics of the duergars, it would soon be back in its original condition.

Rewards:

1000 XP to the 2 monks
100 to Sestian
d5 goldpile to Quinath
An aching pair of fists for Ashe that will heal completely without lasting damage

[[DM] Seren]

The bandit mine

*placeholder*

[[DM] Seren]

The golem crafter's home.

*placeholder*

[[DM] Seren]

Baron's feud

Captain Greil Nightingale will be contacted by Lord Ingebel, of house Exeter, claimed to be the baron of Hillsworth, by the grace of Siamorohe. In reality, Lady Georgina, of house Rafferty, is the true claimant of Hillsworth, but had been driven out by the marching undead army's stragglers. Through forgeries, the house of Exeter rose as the pretender of the Barony and is now seeking arms to impose their claim and prove their legitimacy.

Lord Ingebel has, by writing of his Steward, dispatched a courier to find and meet with Captain Nightingale.

Hidden: show

A dashing young man wearing heraldric outfit, of a crest unknown to almost all, sits patiently within the Winding Way and away from the crowd. He would sit there right until he would see a man with Captain Greil Nightingale's description and approach him with the dignity of an experienced courtier. After explaining he's got a message for him, he'd present the man with the following letter:

To the Winding Way,Soubar

Helm and Cloak, Baldur's Gate

Captain Greil Nightingale

Lord Ingebel Exeter

Captain of Ebon Blades

Baron of Hillsworth

To the Captain of the Ebon Blades, to the most honourable Greil Nightingale

You are being written to by my Lord's Honour for he wishes to acquire your services for his most blessed of claims. Your task will be to reclaim the most lustrous holding of Hillsworth, in the Fields of the Dead, then secure it until permanent retinue can arrive and take over. You will be rewarded handsomely, based on the amount of men you can muster and their individual skills. As your own personal reward, expect ten and two thousand gold coins by your dismissal. Your subjects' pay will be paid to you, for your own graced judgement to distribute as you find the most approprriate. They too can expect similar pay if they exhibit the necessary skills.

Your potential foes, according to His Grace's scouts' reports, indicate that undead have taken claim of the holding when His subjects had to retreat due to the Undead Host. This is a dated report, and it is possible vagrants calling themselves adventurers have staked their own claims over the undead. This is irrelevant, and your job is to simply clean the place out of whoever, or, whatever is currently inside.

Should you find yourself worried that you are serving under a bandit lord, his Grace will exalt you with his most legal and blessed document, by the grace of Siamorphe, proving his family's claim to the holding of Hillsworth, in the Fields of the Dead.

His Grace is requesting a reply thus, and to meet with your graced self to discuss plans and payment in full. Provide the courier with the answer, which contains date and place, and the meeting shall be arranged. His Grace will bring his own retinue, as bodyguards, thus, in the name of Wauken, in the name of fair trade, you yourself may bring your own guard.

With utmost respect,

Heinrich Hertz

Steward of most Holy Exeter, in blessing of Lord Ingebel.

Stamped with the stamp of House Exeter.

The young herald would wait patiently for a response.

The Claimant and his Retinue, save for Sir Hagen and Jenny, have met with Greil Nightingale and made introductions, discussed payment and confirmed the legitimacy of the claim. Overall, the house of Exeter is in mild disapproval of Greil's behaviour due to asking them to prove their claim, refusing the invitation to dinner. However, they are impressed that the weakest is an arcanist, thus their warriors must be powerful, and that the most powerful is Greil, the leader.

Quickfoot Jenny and Sir Hagen are tasked with investigating Hillsworth and providing the mercenaries with accurate information.

The Siege of Hillsworth

Hidden: show

In the Winding Way tavern, Jenny, as Penny, has met with the Ebon Blades and briefed them on their mission. A difficult task - a fort taken by organized undead, stragglers of the undead hosts that assailed the environs. To make mattes worse, they had to cross through troll country, a task truly difficult.

Indeed it was difficult, and the trolls quickly claimed their wizard's life, or almost if the fire genasi had not saved his life. With proper scouting and tactics of diversion, the mercenary band dispatched all of the troll ambushers of the narrow valley they crossed.

Arriving at the outskirts of Hillsworth, a castle truly worthy of the hill it stands on, guided by their halfling companion, they split - the hin climbing to a vantage point and the party making their assault.

This time scouting did not help them, as they soon faced with undead who could detect them! Fleeing - the scouts drew the ire of the undead hosts hiding in the farmlands as the catapults on the walls continued throwing flaming boulders at the serf's homes. Target practice, most likely.

At first disorganized, they drew too close to the walls and were met with hundreds of arrows. Greil and the dwarf hid behind their shields - an unpenetrable aegis others had no claim to. Still, survive they did and hid behind a house that soon became target of the catapults.

Whiling away too long beneath cover, knights sallied forth! Riding on their nightmares, undead horses on fire, shades came upon the mercenaries, dismounting just as they arrived to better meet them in the tight corridor of their cover.

Splitting this time, one of their scouts scaling the rocks near the hill and the rest besieging the gates, they fought valiantly against the unliving.

The sky itself was dark, with stormclouds, arrows and pestskulls. The dwarf however, breaking through the barricades and drawing all the archers' ire, lived. And lived did he! Although losing a tooth, he stood as if earth itself moved.

Finally storming the keep proper, met with revenants and their horses, they broke into the manor and fought their way through undead unending.

Banshees ambushed them, and almost killed them all. Even the dwarf fell, and only the dark captain and his genasi companion survived with but a flesh wound.

An expert medicus, the genasi restored his companions but not without injuries. Soon, almost the whole group slogged ahead with weakened constitutions.

They came upon children crying, and like saviors they broke them out. And saviors they were, for the House of Exeter, as the spawn of Rafferty and their guards were indeed given freedom - the freedom of death.

No quarter was given, innocents, soldiers - they all went to the blade or traps. A strange figure seemed most disgusted, an orc, saying such young foes are not valiant targets.

The corpses disposed of with base and acid, covering their tracks, the group went on to exit before the halfling scout convinced them ' If we send children to Myrkul even, to keep our word, then let us also send the undead as well!'

And so in the great hall did a final battle ensue - Death Knight versus dreaded knights. Claiming superiority, his bark was stronger than his bite and soon he fell dead. From his bony grasp, a single sword was taken. Evil, it was. With coldness of death it was infused.

Congratulated on their victory by their guide, paid as well handsomely, the mercenaries left, awaiting their new task as the blade of House Exeter.