Tag Archives: Ethelred

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?’

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.”

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?”

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?”

To bait a trap

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“Gustav, Alexis has allowed me to indulge in some good old sleuthing to see if we can unearth that ax buried in the nasty mold.

I need to run a few experiments. For this I will need some tasty bits of meat from you next hunt.

As well I will require your help in reviewing and placing some traps to gather some field mice, or really any small furry things. The traps will be little cages that we can move around and keep the specimens alive, for now.

Also please keep any hide and sinew you get from your hunts. I will require building some glove and possible a very inventive mask.”

So much treasure it hurts…

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Sometime before we see Skellor’s antics in the tree.

“Alexis, we have bested the lizard folks, broken our pact with the smooth faced Orcs. We have explored much of these caves. We are hidden. We are safe. But we have no treasure, yet.

Yet much we have seen that would be worth more investigation, more probing.. and possibly pilfering.

The Dark Hand is out there probing for something of power, for artifacts and items. What is to say what we have found is not what they are looking for?

If you know what we are looking for, then speak it so that we all may aid in finding it. But if we are just searching, hoping to find ‘it’ before the Dark Hand.. then let us start with what we have already seen in these caves.

I have ideas on some experiments we could do to safely get the axe, and what else lurks under the foul mold.

What say you?”