Tag Archives: Sutheron

Strange Findings Below: Anti-Hood Graffiti in an Ancient Script

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Honored Undersecretariat, Custodian of Hood’s Wisdom,

While I regret deeply that my companions and I had to leave our fair city in haste, I wanted to send you a message both to let you know of our departure, and also to let you know of some unusual markings in the sewer. The message we found was “Death to the God of Death”, which was perhaps only a little out-of-the-usual, but the fact that it was both in an ancient script and also written relatively recently piqued my interest and thought your interest might be piqued as well. Below I have included the specific script as best as I could transcribe it and also a map to the location in the sewers. Unfortunately, the only path I know of get to that location is through a sewer-cover close to our shared “acquaintance”, The Spider. For this reason I have also included the location in the city of the sewer-cover close to the Spider as well as a map from the sewer entrance to the area in the sewer used by the Spider. You are welcome to visit the Spider, or avoid her, as you see fit, but I wanted to provide as much information as you might find useful.

With the blessings of the gods we shall meet soon, and hopefully in our fine city.

May our shared vigilance hold strong against the shadows cast by the Dark Hand. With the highest respect,
XX

Next Shadow Blade Moves

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While the Crimson Calling is aboard the Gilded Zephyr, Alexis approaches Rask.

“Having slipped free of the Shadow Blades, what is their next move? How long will they wait in Sutheron? How will they try to pick up our trail? Obviously, we didn’t know the resources they have in Sutheron that they might be able to call upon, but let’s assume the resources are minimal when it comes to tracking us; I want to know what the Blades will do on their own.”

Strange Findings Below: A Report on the Halfling in the Depths

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Honored Undersecretariat, Custodian of Hood’s Wisdom,

While pursuing the elusive “Snake” through the underbelly of the city, we crossed paths with a figure from ancient tales—one of the small-folk, or a “hin” as some old tomes call them. This one, who called himself Brin, struck us as peculiar for two reasons. First, though dressed in nothing but rags, he clutched a human-sized skull, marked or decorated. <Alexis includes a physical description of the skull, including the markings. He also includes, in an academic script, the insights he was given from Avv’s insights of the skull>

Secondly, my companion, a devotee of Raiden detected something… unsettling. The halfling, he claimed, was neither alive nor dead, yet bore none of the marks of undeath. He was, somehow, something else—an aberration in defiance of natural order.

As you requested regular reports and of unusual matters, I thought this might be of interest. We could not extract the hin from the sewers, but I confiscated a small sack he carried, filled with odd, seed-like objects that may be worth your inspection.

May our shared vigilance hold strong against the shadows cast by the Dark Hand. With the highest respect,
Alexis Laelius and the Crimson Calling

Do All Cities Stink? Does Aegier Even Have Sewers?

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Inside the confines of the Mithril Lord’s estate, not long after after Gus brings up feeling uncomfortable in Sutheron, Rask asks in Gus’s direction but to everyone:

“What’s Aegier-Aegier, yah know Aegier-city like? Does it smell like a battle, a brothel, a well-used latrine, a garbage dump, and fish harvest… all at once, but worse, too?”

He wrinkles his nose, and pauses for a moment.

“Are there Temples to Raiden there?” He asks disbelief.

His eyes widen, his mind realing, he look more seriously at Gus and Ca’armine. Raiden is a god of battle and protection, and… Aegir…

The Confusion of the City

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Gustav gets up the morning after going through Malkar’s crucible. He got plenty of sleep, but looks exhausted by anxiety. The large gleaming crow keeps poking at Gustav’s side since it hasn’t eaten yet and is hungry. Gustav ignores the crow and mindlessly throws some hard tack pieces and a bit of leftovers from Mavon’s dinner the night before on the ground. The crow quickly plops down to the ground and eats the kernels of food.

Gustav sees Ethelred is up and inventorying his remaining equipment.

“Ethelred, Do you like being in the city? I am getting confused.

There are so many people, so many factions all in such a small area. Gangs, Guilds, Collegiums, Temples, Stores, Taverns, Stalls, Houses, Barracks, Briggs, Jails, Mansions, Palaces. Then there are Thieves, Priests, Scholars, Brigands, Mercenaries, Soldiers, Dogs, Rats, Cats, Barkeeps, Torturers, Executioners, Nobles, Mongers, Engineers, Mages and Morticians. And we have met and dealt with many of these just in the last few days.

Sure, I meet these people and factions over time out across Aegir, but it takes years and many miles of travel. Most days out in the real Aegir are just travel, eating, talking to your team, sharpening weapons, shaving coins. Every once in a while meeting another group of travelers. And then repeat the next day.

I wonder if Sutheron was created by evil magical forces as a way to enslave a large amount of people to keep them busy arguing and fighting against each other. There are small groups helping each other, but usually created in opposition to another group. Gangs created to protect their neighborhood eventually take to stealing, blackmail and the “protection” racket in their own neighborhood. Before Aegir took over Sutheron and before Aedelfried and the Red Cloaks took over, was Sutheron a wonderful place where everyone helped each other? I doubt it. I suppose that is a question for Alexis.

I feel lost in Sutheron. I will stay and help as long as Alexis needs. But this place is well outside my heart. What do you think about Sutheron now? I know you are interested in becoming a member of the Collegium as there are many gifts of knowledge of materials for pit fighting they can give you. But what about after? Are you getting used to the city, do you like staying here? The rat is good I guess.

Perhaps this is just a reaction to Malkar’s Torture and I am feeling down today. Ignore me if I am talking nonsense. But I do miss Aegir.”

True Sutheroni Treasure

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To the Esteemed Merchant, Marcellus Varonis,

I trust this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. My name is Grimsby Thorne, a humble bard and storyteller, and I write to you on behalf of a group of individuals whose skills and determination have earned my deepest respect.

These adventurers, whom I have the honor of introducing to you, are a formidable and resourceful group who have recently aided me in a matter of great personal importance. Their bravery and cunning are matched only by their integrity, and I believe they possess the qualities necessary to assist you in the delicate matters at hand.

These adventurers seek your esteemed guidance and the opportunity to discuss matters of mutual interest with Vortigern Shadowblade. I am confident that their intentions are genuine and that they can be trusted to handle sensitive dealings with the utmost discretion.

Marcellus, I have no doubt that you will find these individuals to be worthy of your time and consideration. Their journey has led them through perilous trials, and they have emerged not only victorious but also with a profound respect for the intricate dance of alliances and enmities that shape our great city.

I urge you to grant them an audience and to consider their request with the same fairness and wisdom that you have always demonstrated. Your support in facilitating their meeting with Vortigern could prove beneficial to all parties involved.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I remain, as always, your humble servant and admirer.

With deepest respect and regards,

Grimsby Thorne

An Important Missive to Alexis Laelius

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To the Most Esteemed and Valiant Alexis and the Noble Mavon,

It is with the greatest admiration and reverence that I, Lady Domatilla Alba of House Feronia, pen this humble missive to you, the illustrious paragons of adventure and discovery. Though but sixteen years of age, my heart burns with an unquenchable passion for the storied histories of the Second Age and the mysteries entwined with the old god Drayek. The tales of your unparalleled triumphs and your singular acumen in unearthing the most exquisite and rare artifacts have reached the most secluded chambers of my estate, filling my soul with wonder and delight.

Dearest Alexis, your reputation as a seeker of hidden treasures precedes you, casting a radiant light upon the endeavors of those who aspire to follow in your hallowed footsteps. The renowned Metius Minge, whose name once echoed through the halls of Sutheron as the quintessential adventurer, now pales in comparison to your illustrious feats. Your success in securing the most coveted relics, where others have faltered, is a testament to your unrivaled skill and indomitable spirit.

It is in this spirit of admiration and fervent hope that I humbly beseech you to consider granting me the unparalleled honor of acquiring any new and rare artifacts that you may wish to part with. As a devoted patron of the arts and an ardent collector of antiquities, my heart yearns to behold and cherish the treasures that you, in your boundless wisdom and bravery, have so valiantly procured.

But more than just a mere request for purchase, I write to you with a proposition that stirs the very depths of my soul. The ruins of Northbrook, a district of Sutheron long abandoned and shrouded in mystery, beckon to me with their ancient whispers. It is said that hidden within the labyrinthine sewers lies a ruined crypt, a relic of the old god of Betrayal, Drayek. The secrets it holds could illuminate the shadows of our past and unravel the mysteries of the Second Age.

I implore you, Alexis, to lend your unparalleled expertise and formidable protection to an expedition into Northbrook. Together, we can venture into the heart of these ruins, uncovering clues and treasures that have lain dormant for centuries. The coffers of House Feronia are vast and ever-ready to support the endeavors of such distinguished individuals as yourselves, and I would pay handsomely for the privilege of your guidance and protection.

Should you find it within your noble hearts to entertain my request, I would be forever grateful and shall hold you in the highest esteem, singing your praises to all who will listen. Please, allow me the pleasure of meeting with you at your earliest convenience to discuss this matter further, and to express in person the depth of my gratitude and admiration.

May the winds of fortune ever guide your path and may your endeavors continue to shine brightly as beacons of inspiration to us all.

With the deepest respect and anticipation,

Lady Domatilla Alba of House Feronia

Coming Home, Again

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The night before the Crimson Calling enters Sutheron.

“Tonight I stand before you not just as Alexis Laelius, renowned treasure hunter and lore seeker, but as a son returning to his beloved home city, a place where the echoes of my family’s leather working craft still resonate through the cobblestone streets.”

“As I prepare to walk those familiar avenues, I can’t help but feel a rush of memories. Memories of my father, tirelessly crafting fine leather goods with hands weathered by time and toil, trying to instill in me the value of hard work and dedication. Memories of my mother, whose gentle spirit and unwavering support guided me through the darkest of tombs and the most treacherous of pits. And let us not forget my dear younger brother, who shares in our family legacy, ensuring that our craft endures through the ages.”

“But there is another figure, a mentor whose wisdom illuminated my path like a torch in the darkness. Publius Helvius Laeca, sage of our city, whose passion for humanity’s past glories and the pursuit of lost artifacts ignited a flame within my soul that has burned ever brighter with each discovery, each adventure.”

“I am reminded of the rich tapestry of history that weaves through the very fabric of our city. A city where old meets new, where the craftsmanship of antiquity mingles with the innovations of tomorrow. Yet, amidst this juxtaposition, there lies a challenge, a challenge to uphold the standards of excellence set by our forefathers, to preserve the legacy of our ancestors, and to safeguard the treasures of our past for generations yet to come.”

“For too long have we allowed the shadows of mediocrity to cloud our vision, to tarnish the splendor of our… heritage. But fear not, for I return not only as a prodigal son but as a champion of our city’s greatness, a defender of its legacy.”

“Together, we shall embark on a new quest, a quest to free humanity from the shackles of those who would enslave us and send us into the dark. The path ahead will be full of peril, and though the challenges may seem insurmountable, I know that the Crimson Calling is up to the task!”

“So let us raise our voices in triumph, let us march forward with heads held high, for we are the heirs of a legacy forged in the fires of history, and together, we shall write the next chapter of our not just our city’s tale, but the tale of humanity once-sundered, being stitched back together. And remember, as we journey forth into the unknown, we do so not as mere mortals, but as guardians of humanity’s past, present, and future.”

“To glory, to adventure, to the enduring spirit of humanity!”

The Dwarven Job

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“It was eight or nine years ago, probably a year or so before I received The Invitation. I was apprenticed to a locksmith. My parents were both Known. I’d done some good work of my own though, stepped up from the kiddie stuff. Some second-story work and some tunnel work. I was Known, and young.”

“So a Friend came to talk to me, he and some other Friends had been talking with Someone about some ruins on Mount Sutheron, out past The Horsetrader’s estates…

“It was mid-autumn, we set out early during the Festival of Oo-rin, after making a small offering and promising a larger one if our ‘harvest’ was successful… festivals are an auspicious time for A Job after all.

We were a small team, as usual: myself, the Doors and Traps man… Bragnasar, a great climber, classic Second Story man, and good in tunnels too. We’d worked together before several times. Then, uh… Sibrah, some muscle mostly, but a good climber and good swimmer, did a lot of work on the docks… Dunbar, a thug and aspiring pit fighter I hadn’t worked with much before, but I knew he had a level head… and Stackin, a sage I’d never met before that claimed to be working for a Lord Allbah, from what I remember, Sibrah knew him from a previous job? I’m not so sure Stackin was working for Lord Allbah, frankly a lot of Jobs at the time were supposedly for Lord Allbah… it was kind of an inside joke back then… and I think some jobs really were for or at least connected to Lord Allbah…”

Anyhow, Stackin and SIbrah led us to an old pile of ruins in the hills around the base of The Mountain, and a somewhat hidden, somewhat collapsed entrance to a… cave? dungeon? ruins?

“The entrance itself was collapsed, but once we were about ten feet in the cave turned into a well crafted hallway. We proceeded cautiously, tapping here and there, lanterns high.

“About 100 feet in or so we encounter the first of several ancient well built traps. Sibrah claimed we were in ancient dwarven ruins around that point. It was a simple crossbow trap but with an ingenious floor-based trigger system and some sort of self-reloading crossbow built into the wall. I wish I could have studied it more, but I disabled it with a couple small wedges in the floor tile to keep it from moving down when stepped on.

“We continued deeper into the mountainside, and eventually came to some stairs. Another trap! These well built stone stairs were designed to… roll over onto a smooth surface. I was able to locate a hidden off-switch though and we descended the stairs.

“About halfway down though, a landing and another trap! This one was a huge Dwarven face, with a vent in the mouth that seemed like it spewed and lit oil. Again, the same floor based trigger mechanism, but the whole landing was difficult to secure. It took a bit, and was a little tricky since by this point the stairs were along the side of a large natural cavern, I was able to climb over the side with some rope held by… Bragnasar and… Sibrah, and wedge the trigger-stones into place and we were able to move safely past.

“At the bottom of the stars was a room worked out of the natural cavern and three heavy wooden doors. And three strange corpses.”

“The corpses were dead dwarves. Stackin was very excited, and very impressed with how well their corpses were preserved, for as old as they must have been. They were dry, they still had a leather skin over the bones… We searched them, and Stackin lay claim to all the items with writing on them, there were runes on most of the weapons, at least the axes and hammers, and some the daggers too.”

Ezrin reaches over to his pack and pulls out his dagger,

“Not this one though.”

He hands the dagger to Alexis. It looks like it could be dwarven made, no runes, not even small smithmarks though.

“Anyhow, we packed up all we could, their plate mail and everything. Set most of it into a ready to pile, and carried the most valuable items with us. Stackin took a few scrolls with him, we all took gold, silver, and a few smaller weapons. There were a few rings too.”

“One of the doors was clearly damaged and Stackin led us through it.

“50 feet or so down that hall, Dunbar triggered but dodged a truly amazing scythe-like blade trap. It would have split him open had he not jumped back so fast! I disabled it as well, the pressure plates were very well hidden though, it was a tough one…”

“We passed some old barrack type spaces, everything made of stone and just a little off in size. There were some runes that Stackin copied down in a few spots. An empty armory type space, kitchens and a dining hall… all stone and a little off..

“It was just past the dining hall that Stackin noticed something odd along the wall, he and I investigated it together, he used a spell at this point, ‘Lanua Invenire Dìomthair” I think now…

“It was a well-hidden door, we found the trigger stone, and followed the low passage it opened into.

“It was only a few yards away that the skeletal dwarves attacked. It was a tough fight, their plate armor, and most of us have short swords or daggers. Dunbar had a small flail though, and he liked to disarm his opponents, and we all knew how to help a Friend out in a fight, so once we figured out what we needed to do… Stackin cast at least one spell, but I was fighting with an improvised club at the time I didn’t really understand what he had done. Now, I think I have a pretty good idea. 

Sibrah got hurt a bit, I got a little roughed up, but not bad, and Bragnasar was pretty hurt, but able to press on.

“Again, we quickly searched the bodies, took a few small weapons immediately and set aside the armor and larger weapons for quick retrieval and followed what we could make out of the trail of dwarves. Stackin seemed to be able to track them?

“It wasn’t long after that that we felt IT. The rage was palpable, alien, righteous, and terrifying. Stackin urged us on an we tried, entered in a small room with a door, the door had a few runes on it, some more scratched in than laid in you know? They looked like some sort of warning to me, and I said so.

“Stackin hurriedly copied them down… The room was eerily silent, and filled with rage, whatever was behind that door was going to destroy us. Feed on our very souls. Take revenge on us for how it was wronged. Dunbar and I broke at the same time, we ran. Stackin… Bragnasar… Sibrah… followed shortly. We all knew we needed to get out of there as fast as we could…

“We did stop to get our loot, and it did slow us down. Stackin seemed satisfied with the job and paid us well. He said he would inform the Hoodites about the walking skeletons and the Evil. The rest of us split up everything that didn’t have runes on it, which wasn’t much.”

Ezrin accepts his dagger back from Alexis.

“But it was plenty… Dunbar wasn’t ever really the same, lost the stomach for pit fighting at least… I have no idea what happened to the rest of the guys. I hadn’t seen them when I got the Invitation. I never saw Stackin again…”