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Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet.

Posted by DMFor group archive Z
DM
GM, 44 posts
Thu 20 Jul 2017
at 07:24
  • msg #1

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

Aspiring adventurers you are you traveled where the whispers carried you through forests, hills and plains to the relatively unremarkable city of Verbonbonc, located just north of the Kron Hills and west of the Gnarley Forest.

Some have come to seek fortune, some to seek power, some to seek fame. But regardless of motivation you've all been led to this same place. The city is bustling with activity. Gnomes are more numerous here than almost any city of the Flannaes. Wood Elves are also in the city in numbers enough to notice, more so than their normal city dwelling kin the High Elves.

You hear whispers of the Battle of Emridy Meadows that occurred nearly a decade ago, and of recent banditry along the southern roads towards Hommlet. You also hear that Viscount Wilfrick has endorsed the construction of a castle in Hommlet under the control of Rufus and Burne.

Rufus and Burne themselves gained notoriety for removing bandits from the area just north and west of Verbobonc in recent years. Rufus is a holy warrior in the service of St Cuthbert. Burne is also a faithful follower of St. Cuthbert, reportedly both wizard and monk.

A new notice was just posted in the town square and you have gathered to read it. The city having sapped your gold and silver to the point you need a little adventure.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:07, Sat 22 July 2017.
Wilfrick
NPC, 1 post
Viscount of Verbobonc
Thu 20 Jul 2017
at 07:27
  • msg #2

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

Getting to the posting you see the following posted:

The Viscount Wilfrick does hereby call upon adventurers and fame seekers to travel along the south eastern road towards Hommlet and to remove the threat of banditry from the area. The Viscount has authorized a sum of 25 gp for every bandit scalp claimed and returned to him by season's end.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:29, Thu 20 July 2017.
Albrecht Delmorn
player, 11 posts
Thu 20 Jul 2017
at 15:12
  • msg #3

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

Albrecht wearily approached the posting, reading it over with about the same enthusiasm as one shovels manure. Anyone nearby can likely tell that was his profession before he came to the city. "Well, this might be worth taking into consideration..." he mumbled to himself, tapping on the hilt of his greataxe. He could really use some money, even if that bounty wouldn't cut it for his family, it would let him buy better equipment for the future.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Sat 22 July 2017.
Cyrinelle Wolfsfang
player, 5 posts
Sat 22 Jul 2017
at 18:20
  • msg #4

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

Cyrinelle stalked alongside the road.  She was a shadow wrapped in the leaves and branches and her eyes swept the road.  Bandits were a particular problem for the people she and her kind looked after so any reward to hunt them was welcome.  Blood and earth was what they deserved and Cyrinelle was planning on plenty of both.
Oren Stonebreaker
player, 7 posts
Sun 23 Jul 2017
at 09:56
  • msg #5

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

The lone dwarf looks over the posting, rubbing his beard slightly.  His brilliant blue eyes mark him as slightly different from your average dwarf, but it is more the blue sheen to the whites of his eyes that stand out.  As he rubs his bronze colored beard, he looks around to see if any others were taking an interest to the bounty.  He had seen definite better days, or so one would expect from a dwarf.
Tymak
NPC, 1 post
Lord Mayor of Verbobonc
Mon 24 Jul 2017
at 09:26
  • msg #6

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

In reply to Oren Stonebreaker (msg # 5):

A middle aged human stood on the square just off to the side, seeming to watch who might be reading the sign. His face showed the signs of battle and weather. His head was bald. One thing stood out though, a holy symbol of St. Cuthbert around his neck. His robes though seemed to indicate some member of the aristocracy though, fancy embroidered robes that only the well to do could afford.

As Oren looked around he gave the dwarf a nod of his head. There was a sadness in the human's eyes. He did not yet approach the group content just to see who might be thinking about going to face the bandits.
Milander Vos Drago
player, 5 posts
Mon 24 Jul 2017
at 16:19
  • msg #7

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

An old man spryly moved towards the notice board, his hawkish face set in a scowl as he pushed through. "What's all the commotion about? Something interesting finally get posted up? Probably not. You morsels wouldn't know interesting if it was the size of a building and bit you on the leg." And with that, he stood in front of the board and scowled at it for a few moments.

Then he grunted, and turned around to face the folks now arranged around him. "Fine. I'm in. I'll take a stealthy archer type and a crunchy meat shield with me." he says, looking about.
Albrecht Delmorn
player, 13 posts
Mon 24 Jul 2017
at 16:52
  • msg #8

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

Albrecht watches the others gather around the posting, his hand absently gripping his axe hilt as he waited for the group up disperse. "I am going, and I will gladly accept the assistance. I will assume that, regardless of your age, you will be able to... keep up?" he asked the older man, eyeing him up to see what he could deign from his appearance.
Milander Vos Drago
player, 6 posts
Mon 24 Jul 2017
at 17:07
  • msg #9

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

The old man wore little. He carried a tall walking staff, and his clothing appeared to be nothing more than pelts roughly stitched together. He did have a nice belt, with various pouches, but beyond that, he carried nothing else. "Well, there's the meat shield. And yes boy, in spite of this inferior body I'm quite certain I'll be able to keep up with a spry hatchling like you. More than likely I'll be teaching you a thing or two, so be sure not to slow me down." he says, walking forward and poking him with a bony finger before looking around... presumably for the stealthy archer type he mentioned earlier.
Faerrash
player, 5 posts
Mon 24 Jul 2017
at 20:51
  • msg #10

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

Faerrash had come into town just that very day.  He hadn't done much of anything a of yet, but he did notice a crowd gathered by a board with some papers on it.  Faerrash was a sight to be hold.  Standing over 6ft with a huge unusual hammer that seemed to be made of a horn from some animal.  That may have been unusual, but what stood out more were the wings which sprouted from his back and any flesh that could be seen were filled with pearly white scales.  His face looked reptilian, but it was quite clear he wasn't a reptile more like a dragon or at least half a dragon.

He made his way up to the group and heard the older man and the other male with an axe talk about going somewhere.  A space opened up and he too made his way to the board and read about the need for adventurers.  Thinking this may be exactly what he needed he turned to the old man.  Make that two meat shields.  Name is Faerrash.
Oren Stonebreaker
player, 10 posts
Mon 24 Jul 2017
at 21:05
  • msg #11

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

Oren nodded back, and moved towards the middle aged man who had been watching the board.  He was a simple dwarf, with a simple steel shield and warhammer not at the ready, though he wore his studded leather armor under his dark grey cloak.  As he neared him, he spoke softly.  "Ah lad, I see ye lost someone dear to ye heart.  I know that feeling, it ain't a pleasant one.  I take it ye posting the reward for these bandits, or know who has?  I am but a simple dwarven warrior, but if I can help bring the rule of law back to these parts, then I am willing."  He spoke, kinder than most would expect a dwarf to.
Tymak
NPC, 1 post
Lord Mayor of Verbobonc
Tue 25 Jul 2017
at 07:13
  • msg #12

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

Tymak though aging for a human gave a hearty laugh and responded in dwarven [Private to group Dwarven: "I long for the road my dwarven friend. Ten years ago it was me answering the call, but I've gotten older in the days since and my duties prevent me from adventuring these days. They might tell you that settling down is the thing to do, but I miss the life of the road."]

He looks over to see the dragonborn arrive. "Oh I'll have to warn the guard probably not to harm that one, they might mistake him for a winged lizardman." he muses aloud in common.

He then introduces himself to Oren in dwarven, [Private to group Dwarven: "I am Tymak, Lord Mayor of Verbobonc, and servant of St. Cuthbert. The posting was by Wilfrick, Viscount of Verbobonc. He controls the Viscounty while I control the city proper." ]

He seemed to laugh at some long past memory and resumes in dwarven [Private to group Dwarven: "I remember when I was like you and went from town to town seeking fortune and fame. Good news is I found the fortune and fame, bad news is with it comes responsibilities. Problem is evil is always on the rise. It always takes new folks to keep evil at bay. Rufus and Burne helped clear up several of bandit camps west of the city, now the east rises again. With the Viscount having last year approved their request to build a castle in Hommlet they are to busy for such matters now, they have a small force that can defend the village itself, but not to seek out the cause of the troubles. Ensuring trade routes remain open is vital to the Viscounty, well worth 25 gp a scalp."]
This message was last edited by the player at 07:13, Tue 25 July 2017.
Milander Vos Drago
player, 7 posts
Mon 24 Jul 2017
at 23:45
  • msg #13

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

The old man looks over Faerrash and actually smiles approvingly. "A hatchling that might prove half competent. Some ranged, sneaky types and we can hunt them down and collect as many heads as we can carry."
Oren Stonebreaker
player, 11 posts
Tue 25 Jul 2017
at 02:10
  • msg #14

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

Oren laughs heartily.  "Aye to that lad, perhaps ye have lost someone dear to ye heart...adventure!  But they say adventure is for the young, and administration for the older!"  He joked, before turning serious.  "Aye, if ye reckon it that way, 25 gold pieces a scalp is a reasonable price.  Well, it is an honor to meet ye, Lord Mayor Tymak.  Names Oren, of the Stonebreaker Clan.  I would be glad to help, if ye happen to know anything that is useful?"  He spoke, wiggling his eyebrows.
Velox
player, 3 posts
Tue 25 Jul 2017
at 02:19
  • msg #15

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

A tall, young man entered the town square and saw the others gathered about the posting, hearing the back and forth he said, "My flail may come in handy. I'm assuming these bandits are up for reform and could be interrogated for information getting back to their leaders. In my experience most bandits are just poor men, doing what they've learned to survive. Their actions aren't good, but they aren't necessarily evil either."
Tymak
NPC, 2 posts
Lord Mayor of Verbobonc
Tue 25 Jul 2017
at 07:32
  • msg #16

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

In reply to Oren Stonebreaker (msg # 14):

Tymak nods as the dwarf talks about losses and then responds again in dwarven [Private to group Dwarven: "We lost many brave souls at the Battle of Emridy Meadows. That was a decade ago on 5th of Patchwall. It was a terrible day. Young men slaughtered before the forces of evil. I was one of the lucky ones who lived through the battle. Because of the great sacrifice the Viscount declared the 5th of Patchwall the Feast of Emridy Meadows so as to celebrate those who lost their lives and also the defeat of the Temple of Elemental Evil."]

He pauses a moment. Then continues [Private to group Dwarven: "The rise of evil again this decade later is concerning to us in the east. We've not had the forces to keep an eye on the ruins of the old Temple. If someone new is working to once again build from it's ruins it could be detrimental to our work for the last decade. I myself never made it into the Temple proper so I can't give you details about that. I was busying myself with taking care of the wounded and dying upon the field while the other forces pushed forward. My own wounds were grievous at the time." ]

There is a bit of sadness in his voice. [Private to group Dwarven: "The folks of Hommlet largely follow the Old Faith, though there is a chapel to St. Cuthbert in the hamlet that was built in the year following Emridy Meadows. They are mostly decent folks, farmers and hunters mostly. They might could provide you with information about bandit movements and where they might think the bandits are holed up."]
This message was last edited by the player at 07:33, Tue 25 July 2017.
Albrecht Delmorn
player, 16 posts
Wed 26 Jul 2017
at 17:25
  • msg #17

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

"That is where I will have to disagree with you, good sir. If a man willingly commits evil acts, he is either an evil man, or a pawn of one, which is arguably just as bad. Any of these bandits that do not surrender need to be put down," Albrecht argued, looking around the group to see what their general reactions were to the ethical discussion.
Velox
player, 4 posts
Wed 26 Jul 2017
at 17:29
  • msg #18

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

Velox's typically happy demeanor shifted visibly and he responded, "I fear you misunderstand me. I would have them brought to justice but what good does killing a man for his crimes do? There should always be an opportunity for reform and then, if that is rejected, then, and only then, can a more permanent punishment be determined."
Albrecht Delmorn
player, 17 posts
Wed 26 Jul 2017
at 17:31
  • msg #19

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

Albrecht shakes his head with a sigh. "Well, when you're talking to a bandit to try to reform him, I'll be standing behind him with my axe waiting for him to try to kill you," he responded simply.
Faerrash
player, 6 posts
Wed 26 Jul 2017
at 17:55
  • msg #20

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

Faerrash listened to the banter back and forth between the two men.  He was more in line with Albrecht naturally and so he said so, Not if my hammer doesn't smash his head first.  He said with a hearty laugh while thrusting his hammer high into the air.
Milander Vos Drago
player, 9 posts
Wed 26 Jul 2017
at 18:09
  • msg #21

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

"So long as this leads to the pay I need to continue my research, I don't care if you kill them or lay with them. Little point in hunting down bandits if there's no reward. And if you disagree then you can donate your share to a good cause. Me. It seems we'll have a strong front line, just need a scout. Any of you any good at hitting things at range, or do you expect me to do that too?" the old man said, still looking about for the stealthy type it seemed.
Oren Stonebreaker
player, 14 posts
Wed 26 Jul 2017
at 20:27
  • msg #22

Prelude: Verbobonc to Hommlet

Oren nods his head in thanks.  "Well, thank ye for the information.  Perhaps if I return, it will be with some gold to offer ye a drink and a few tales in the future.  It looks like the group over there is getting ready to move off, might go and see if they have room for me.""  He spoke, turning going back to the posting.  As he overhears the last remarks of the old man, he speaks.  "I am sorry lad, just an old hammer and shield type myself.  If yer interested, I have talked to the Lord Mayor, and he has a few suggestions."  He spoke.
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