Monthly Archives: September 2021

Shared Skelor Heritage

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Alexis, Mavon, and Ethelred are wet and cold, but all five of the group is ready to leave the caves to get warm. As the group leaves the fungal cave and into more traveled areas Ethelred and Mavon start discussing treasure hunting. Alexis takes the opportunity to signal Telosh for them to take up the back of the procession.

Keeping his voice a little low Alexis addresses Telosh “I’ve been thinking about Skelor. We should reach out to him. Up until now, I’ve been leaving that to Gus, but you and I both know he’s not the most… gregarious woodsman. Plus he’s from Aegir.” Alexis says the last bit about Aegir in a knowing tone. A shared, conspiratorial tone.

“Would you be willing to reach out to our crippled friend?”

Bora Bloodfist’s Proclaimation!

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Telosh – Sneakthief! The scavenger Grokxex, she knows you, from your drunken desperate stench. You came upon her hunt and stole it.   Grokxex was starving, and you made off with her last meal. She resorted to chewing on berries and leaves that were poison and she perished.  Do you deny this?  Do you take responsibility for this?  …This is good. She-Who-Is-Fierce wishes for such weakness and stupidity to be culled.  When  Grokxex returns to us she will be blessed now, with better eyes and ears for detecting and rooting out those who would try to steal and sneak.  She-Who-Is-Fierce is grateful.

Gustav – The spirits of those first free’d by the peacemakers…you fought a memory of them in a fragment of this world…they know you and only wish they had been cut down by your blade originally, and reborn, instead of trapped by the spirit catcher of these hills. You called them goblins as an insult, and goblins were the minions of the spirit catcher, and so they have sworn a blood oath to She-Who-Is-Fierce that they will not be so easy to defeat once they are full-grown again. Your taunting has made them more savage and even if they were to fall on a spear they will have the power for one last killing blow.

Ethelred –  Seedling of the one who wielded the Fangblade, a warrior of  Kuststad who fought with the ageless wanderer. The beginning of a war that until recently raged ceaselessly in these lands.  Those who were cut down by the Fangblade grew more fierce in their return and thus our tribes have become more powerful, with warriors who know no bounds.  Those who were cut down by the Fangblade are among the greatest of us today!  She-Who-Is-Fierce was most pleased.  You must be a peerless warrior and leader to your people!

Alexis – You are the one who She-Who-Is-Fierce has sent us visions of, and the Lady has led us to you. The dead god wanders the hunting range of She-Who-Is-Fierce and she tires of his presence. He mourns and weeps and is quite unseemly.   She-Who-Is-Fierce worries the dead god will make sheep of our people.  She would allow him to walk back into the world and become reborn as is our way, but he cannot as he is barred by his own making.  She-Who-Is-Fierce wishes a boon of you, now that you have walked the steps of the peacemakers who free’d our people.  With them gone,  She-Who-Is-Fierce has guided me to you in hopes that you will attain the object which holds the last of the dead god’s powers, and break the spell that stops She-Who-Is-Fierce from casting him out.  The Peacemakers were our allies by blood oath, but now they are gone, defeated by the slavers.  The call of war will soon begin again.  Find the Peacemakers weapon, a broken sword mended twice, guarded by many spears, in the place the humans have named for the metal they dig from the earth, and break it for the third time to give She-Who-Is-Fierce free range again before her children must fight.  The battle to come may be the toughest any of our tribe has ever faced, and we would not do it hobbled.

Thanks to Avv and the White Wolf

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The giant white wolf has left the group and morning is fresh upon them. Alexis asks for a memento from each as appreciation for the help through the night. Ethelred pulls out one of the spearheads from the stink lizards and starts working it to be more like a fang. While Ethelred works, Alexis takes the pickax and starts digging a relatively shallow hole out of the way, Telosh takes out the goblin potions and decides which to part with, and Gustav finds a stone and starts carving a wolf-head on the stone. After Alexis finishes the hole he brings out one of Nock-Moss’ river rocks and draws a tear on the rock.

When everyone has their offering, Alexis takes each one in turn starting with the stones from Ethelred and Gustav.

“As small tokens of appreciation for you and your wolf, our protector last night, we dedicate this fang and this fierce visage.” Alexis sets Gustav’s stone first and places Ethelred’s on top of it.

“In the name of the wise woman, we offer this tainted potion. May you use the taint as a poison or the potion for it’s power.”

“With the ink of humanity in this remote place, we remember how you have saved humanity once again, and mark it with a tear.”

When the last item is placed in the hole, Alexis looks at his companions. “Now a moment for each of us to silently give thanks.”

The period of silence extends, and extends. The period is too long. It feels awkward.

Finally Alexis breaks the silence with a whispered “thank you.” Then he turns to the group “those awkward silences always make me uneasy. Let’s cover this hole and get over that saddle. May we be blessed across the river and not be stopped by the smooth cheeks.”

Allies?

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Telosh reels from his third draught of of gnollbrew…

The flames from the campfire seem to lick to the sky, spirits seem to writhe and dance off the coals and sparking to the sky, other spirits or shadows dance around the outside of the fire…away from the fire, everything else looks gray and cold and far away…the fire is everything.  And the flind is everything.  He grows and becomes a giant.  His spirit could crush Telosh or any of his companions and the humans are insignificant in the face of this demon that has walked this world for eons…he has died so many times…and every pain, loss, cut and blow has added to the powerful being that now towers over the treasure hunters.

Yet Telosh, perhaps by association with the others, perhaps through the Grace of Tylin, is regarded as somehow worthy by it, this massive being whose powerful spirit seems to be woven into the very fabric of this world in a way that seems far more permanent than Telosh or any of the team. 

The gnolls sit amongst the group around the fire and they always seem to be laughing whenever Telosh focuses on them, but even they seem transfixed by the giant and the massive fire that dominates the world now.

Telosh signals or perhaps speaks, to Alexis somewhat confusedly,

“Allies? New friends? Help us with the Hammer and Crown? The Hammer would help us break The Sword again…”

Playing to Strengths Against The Brutes

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During the downtime, while healing and hunting for food on north side of the western twin. While everyone is rested, Alexis addresses the group.

“If we’re going after the hammer and crown, we need to find a way to neutralize the Dark Hand. Mostly the ‘Made’, but also Mavon and whoever the third person was. Considering how dangerous it was to have a bow fight with that ‘Made’ in the tree, it seems like we need a better plan. I’ve got two ideas, but I’m interested in any others you might have.”

“My first idea is making traps. Big traps. Small traps. Luring traps. Pit traps. Enough traps to deal with the lot of them. They showed they’re willing to chase us around the mountains. And it seems like we can get them to chase us again if we really try. Hells, we could tell them we have Deepforge’s axe.”

“My second idea, is preying on part of what makes them stronger than us: supplies. Every week, or so, we have to spend 2 – 3 days getting resupplied. They don’t have this problem. They get supplies from elsewhere, like those Harnack rations, and/or they range for food and water. Either of these options gives us an opportunity to strike them where it hurts, possibly cripples.”

“Any other thoughts on this?” Alexis looks expectantly at the group.

That that was left for the Dark Hand

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(while recovering from the damage of the orc encounters near the cave)

“Alexis, the Dark Hand is breaking open the tombs of the Dwarves, breaking those beautifully made cover stones, raiding any items held with. Any treasure, any items of power… those are all now within the grasp of our enemy. I know your decision was probably the righteous one, the human one, the honorable one. But how do you feel about it now?”

Sorting and “Deciphering”

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As Telosh sifts through the tentacled lurkers’ midden heap for metal and silver, and eventually skulls, then dwarf bones, he does more than simply search, he sorts into piles based on what he is looking for, and then piles within piles. There is a system, his father taught it too him both for sorting the high piled carts that would arrive some late fall evenings, no rhyme or reason the contents. Groups by like characteristics, a simple hierarchy.

The same hierarchy for dividing up junk and re-sellable goods was useful for deciphering unknown inscriptions, Okken had taught Telosh the basics, enough to help with both sets of register books, and enough to play games with simple coded messages with Dirk, but not nearly as much as Okken… or Alexis could do.

Telosh as Telosh sorted the coins, he took mental note of the markings on them, at least three different styles completely. Some patterns started to emerge, but he did not have a book, so counting them was difficult.

He asked questions of Alexis sparingly and with specific intention, and made note of which parts of the coin Alexis seemed to gain the most information from.

Alexis was busy with many things, perhaps at another time Telosh would ask more questions.

At the very least where to buy a book, and how much one should cost…

I should sort my potions like this again soon. Try to take note some how of the differences in the bottles or seals, and any grouings…

I can look at these coins again later too.. there’s a lot of junk to sort through, and so many bones…

Items of power…

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(After the ax has been recovered and it is clear that no one in the group is going to use it.. and after Alexis boldly claims there is a ‘right way’ to use items of power)

There is a moment of lull, before embarking on the day. Ethelred takes the lull to broach a subject that has been on his mind.

“When we left the Lost City we were accomplished adventurers, plunders of relics. In Sutheron we learned of this other group that also hunts treasures; artifacts of the past. Then at the Grayfax estate we saw an item of true power, gems of great worth. And we handed them over, for nothing but the deed itself.

“And that brings me to this ax. Won at much cost and with a bit of cunning and good planning. Praise be the plan!

“What fate do we envision with this ax? Will it be sold in Sutheron? Will it be handed over to another vision of a woman? Will it be used for many tasks? Or can it only be reserved for ‘proper’ uses?

“I would lean toward selling, personally. We have lost much on this adventure and much more we need to gain.

“But I fear if we sell this ax, it may end up in our enemies hands. And while we need resupplying, all this hard work can not aid the enemy.

“What say you all?”

Thoughts and Prayers, Pieces of Silver and One Copper.

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Alone an on watch, shortly after the ambush and giving thanks to the robin, Telosh pulls out his small supply of Aegirian coins. He sifts through the coppers and silvers, feeling each one carefully in the moonlight.

Alexis said only a fool fails to worship the gods… each in their turn…

He holds a silver in his hand, tracing the rune of TyLin on the crown side. Almost silently, the words clear in his mind, he intones a prayer:

Tylin, Great Goddess of Wisdom and Insight, Patron of Heroes, I beseech you, guide and protect me in my all my journeys.

He places the coin on his right thigh and selects another.

He flips the second silver across his fingers, like Alexis used to do before his pendant turned red…

Telosh moves his lips with out a sound, and forms the words clearly in his mind:

Tymora, Goddess of Luck and Fortune… it has been some time, I’m sorry. I thank you for your blessings, and accept both your push and your pull.

He cycles the coin across his knuckles again, and then puts the coin back and selects another, he rubs the engraving and again silently forms another prayer

Raiden, Protector of Humanity, Chosen by Anashar, may your valor and heroism guide me and aid us in our efforts against the fouls creatures and treachery that threaten us.

He rubs the coin again, and places it back in his pouch.

With some trepidation, he selects a copper coin from the pouch, holds it gently, rubbing the edges.

He takes a deep breath. An in his mind, silently forms words again as he holds the copper

Av’v, Crone-Mother, Keeper of Lost Knowledge, I have felt Your power and seen Your work. Please watch over us as we seek ancient artifacts to aid humanity in it’s time of need. Please accept my humble apologies for my part in the death of Your one-time servant Nandra, she was corrupted by kossen and I ask that You see my efforts to aid all of humanity.

Telosh shivers and places the copper coin on the ground at his left side.

The Westlander takes several deep breaths before picking up the silver on his right thigh again.

He runs his finger along the edge, and traces the rune of TyLin on the crown side again with a finger and quietly voices another prayer.

Tylin, Great Goddess of Wisdom and Insight, Patron of Heroes, I thank you for your guidance and protection in my all my journeys. I thank you for watching over my family, my father Okken, my mother wherever she is, my uncle Dakun, my cousins Sven, Gorf and Dirk and my companions now, Alexis, Ethelred and Gustav.
I beg you, Great Goddess of Heroes, Protector of the Wild and Free, to aid Gustav especially, he his kind and cares for us. I beseech you if you see Gustav as your servant, guide me in what ever way you see fit to bring him closer to you.

Telosh places the coin on his right leg again and draws out a small file provided to him by Ethelred. He picks up the coin again and begins to etch the rune into the coin carefully and with TyLin and Gustav on his mind.

Tymora, anyone?

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While the group is resting, waiting for Telosh to fully recover. The glow of the dwarven crypt surrounds the group. Alexis is sorting through his equipment and organizing it. As he pulls out his old holy symbol to Tymora he looks at it a bit wistfully. The glow of the room seems to help bring out the shine of the simple silver disk. After turning the disk over several times, Alexis addresses the rest of the group.

“Is Tymora of any interest to any of you? This was given to me by my father when I was eight. He wanted me to have something to help with my luck. Promised to beat me if I lost it.” Alexis smiles at the memory.

Alexis turns the disk over for the rest to see “when I studied with Publius I hired a silversmith to modify the coin with the name ‘Tyche’. There is some evidence that Tymora and Tyche are the same, or Tyche was the older name. Or possibly Tyche was a lost daughter of Tymora. Or…? At the time I was sure I would someday find the answer to this riddle.”

Alexis looks expectantly at the group.