Lucius Requests Aid

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Around a wilderness campfire, after leaving the Copper Hills Fort, Lucius “Of Sutheron” slips out of his Sutheroni accent, and starts to speak.

“Well then, I clearly need some help at being from Sutheron… rather than have a noble name, which seems… complicated…. I’m thinking I’m a young bravo out to prove himself, perhaps my mother was a Westlander slave, and I am the bastard of a noble, or perhaps my mother was a Sutheroni woman of the night, and my father was a Westlands horse-trader… Something that will be understandable and also… not worth talking about?”

“What do you think will be the most… sellable? believable? At least to Aegierians?”

“Lucius” looks around at his companions, waiting for them to respond…

Bushwacker has left the building

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The loss at first was great. A pain, a wound deep within. I tried to shield my hurt by making light, but poking fun at Telosh for losing.

While now I finally see it was just a sword. That is not what bushwacker was to me before it loss. It was The Treasure of all the treasures we had found. It was magic to me. It was what finally made me feel like I could be a Hero.

When Alexis found me in Aiger I was in the family rut. My path was set like a well made stone wall. All I had to do was stay and place each day like you place each brick. The world was out there, but it wasn’t a world I would ever see.

And then, quickly, that changed. Alexis spoke of the world outside my grove. He knew of lore and history never spoken in my family. And so I followed him beyond the wall of Aiger into the world about.

When we met with Gustav I saw someone so in his place outside. So able to move through the woods like one would move through a crowded market. His sense of where to go, when to stop and what was edible amazed me.

Quickly I found my footing and learned much. But still I didn’t feel like I had my place. Getting the mules into the Lost City was the first glimmer that I could be useful to this group.

But finding Bushwacker, that was when I finally started to feel like I could fight. The way it felt in my hand. The way it sliced. It was a sword that gave me confidence.

When we met with Telosh it set me back on my heroic feelings. This was a man that could fight, take a beating, give a beating. But I didn’t give up. Watching Telosh I learned that hitting something is important. But where you hit something is even more important.

As we traveled I took every chance to use the sword. This meant swing it at anything, even the underbrush. The group, Alexis in particular, gave me grief. But I needed the practice. With each swing my confidence grew. Each swing the sword felt that much more natrual.

The loss of that Bushwacker meant my journey to Hero had faltered. I felt a bit lost, unsure. At first I blamed Telosh. But truly it was not his fault. He desired the sword the moment he laid eyes on it. I took solace in how it was lost, heroically lunging onto the dragon itself.

Lost to he hero path without the sword. But I could not give up now. We were too deep into our mission. So I pushed on. Found what hope I could. And tried to learn to use new weapons.

Taking down that dragon with our minds., with a well oiled plan… without Bushwacker. That re-lit the spark in me. The sword was just a sword. Alexis was wrong no amount of sharpening could have dulled the magic in that sword. The magic of that sword was in how it made me feel. But what I have learned is that the magic of being a hero is within me, within us. And no single sword can make that big of a difference.

How we get out

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While the group is initially looking through the dragon hoard and starting to group it, Alexis addresses the group.

“I’ve been thinking about how we can leave with the crown and hammer, and whatever other treasures we can carry out of here. Obviously I’m hoping that something in this hoard can help us, but barring that, we need to start thinking about a plan.”

“The simplest plan is to hide as much as we can and just walk out through the dwarf front door. They haven’t questioned us yet, and presumably will continue this trend. Of course, the problem is what happens when we leave the ‘shelter’ of the dwarves? We’ll have two kinds of orcs waiting for us as well as whatever Dark Hand have arrived. Bad. But even if we can somehow slip out the dwarf-front-door unnoticed, there will surely be Dark Hand outside the cave. Which leaves somehow trying to get through the whole of the orc stronghold to get out at the saddle of the mountain. Doesn’t seem likely.”

“Alternately, I feel pretty confident we can scout from this end under the water over to the dwarf cells. We can probably hold our breaths long enough with the fast-flowing water to get to the cells. We arrange a couple ‘ropes’ together to shuttle our gear and the treasure. Cold, dark, risky. But I think we can do it!”
“Of course we face the same challenges once we’re at the cells, but perhaps with some more breathing room… but perhaps the Dark Hand waiting for us.” Alexis gives a slight shrug combined with a nod to the side with his head. “Clearly a lot of factors.”

“Another idea. We could try and wait them out. Perhaps we can sustain ourselves here long enough for the Dark Hand to crush themselves against the dwarves and their maze, or at least greatly weaken themselves greatly. This is not my favorite plan, but if it works, the three of you might be able to get some rest down here” Alexis is addressing Mavon, Skelor, and Telosh. He then looks around the dark, damp cave. “Not that I would choose this over civilization for a true rest.”

“The last idea I’ve had so far is to see about solving the dwarf curse and seeing if that could lead us to that horrible room where Gus felt the grave. It still doesn’t get us out, but it would put us behind a secret door and uncovering more mysteries might uncover secret dwarven ways into, and out-of, the mountain. Putting that thing out of it’s misery would help me sleep more soundly… assuming it doesn’t get it’s hands on me and prevent me from ever sleeping again.” Alexis gives another slight shrug combined with a nod to the side with his head.

Alexis looks at the group, still understandably engrossed in the treasures. Alexis lets the silence let the group know he’s ready to hear their thoughts.

Who Speaks For The Dark Hand?

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While the group recovers in the realm of the litigious dwarves, Alexis addresses Mavon.

“Mavon, I’ve been wondering who speaks to the non-humans on behalf of the Dark Hand. Given what we’ve seen so far, I assume Skellor can speak orcish, as can Thraan. Is that correct? Who else speaks orcish? And what other languages are spoken by the Dark Hand? And by whom?”

Black Dragon Notification System

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While resting after the group retreats from the black dragon, Alexis is tending to Mavon, Ethelred, Gustav, who are all barely awake.

In the dark, Alexis is talking with Ethelred about the next plans. “Given how that went, I’m thinking a better plan would be to know when the dragon leaves, and then sneak to the trove. While you were out, my couple plans are:

  • Some way to notify us when the dragon leaves through the water. If it wasn’t so loud down there, using your two bells would allow us to know if it’s coming or going. Although I’m not sure how to put something in the water that would let the bells ring, but not be noticeable by the dragon.
  • A blood trail from the rotting deer up to the mushroom cave. Thinking about leaving a rabbit in the cave for the dragon. Hopefully this will get the beast to return more often.
  • Create. a trap at the rotten deer carcass that will cause rocks to make a lot of noise. Hopefully the dragon would mistake the trap for the stink lizards and come to discover some sorry Dark Hand folks. Knowing how much you like to take doors apart, we could use the jail door for the loud sound. If it’s loud enough, we would be able to hear it from our ledge.”

“What do you think? Other ideas?”

About Our Boss….

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The group exits the long passage out to the sunny outside and starts to spread the clothing that needs to be dried. Gustav starts to make a fire to cook the mushrooms.

Alexis turns to Mavon “You’ve thrown your lot in with us but, as you know, we haven’t been fully forthcoming with you. We need to be more forthcoming with you so you can approach this whole situation with your eyes open.”

Alexis looks at Ethelred with a questioning look. The look is clearly interpreted as ‘do you want to tell him, or shall I?’

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…”