"Frost sorceress?  Now THAT's one I haven't heard before."

" 'Wild' is hitting the nail with the hammer.  They're all manner of wild."

"Now Oslo is the expert on Gremlins, is he?  Well why don't nobody ever listen when I tell them their superstitious mumbo-jumbo doesn't do a lick of good?  I've told you what should be done, but that probably isn't gonna do any good either.  I might just as well be down in the mine talking to a wall of stone."

"Hey there Stone, know what we should do about those Gremlins?"

There's a pause while Oslo waits for an imaginary wall of stone to say something.

"We ought to get all the holy dwarves we can put our hands on and march them around this mine and the city until they've wiped out the last of the gremlins.  What's that, Wall?  You say they've got better things to do?  Like what, praying for a better tomorrow?  Recounting each and every coin in their stacks of gold?  BBbbbrrrrrfff!"

You get the feeling that Olso is actually upset with his hypothetical deep mine stone wall.  He has folded his arms and turned away from it.  They are no longer on speaking terms.

I'm skipping ahead a little here, but you can still attend to business before Samuel's visit if you like.

In the evening the next day you're all back together in your room at Idora's.  She comes knocking at your door with a visitor.  It's Samuel of The Players Three.  Idora excuses herself and leaves you to speak with Samuel in private.

"Hello there, my Triplefang friends.  This humble puppeteer has heard that you lot are in semi-desperate need of ten thousand gold coins for some very secret purpose.  While I'm hurt that you won't share this secret with me, I still see the value in putting those in need of gold together with those in need of their services," says Samuel in a theatrical manner.

"I spoke with Genessa, and while she has no job worth that full sum, I did end up with a big job and a small job that you might be interested in.  Allow me to start with the big job."

"Our story begins with a paradox - an anti-social harper.  The great master harper Eburacon was an unrivaled musical and magical genius.  He wove melody and harmony together like no one before him or since.  Eburacon was a true artist and virtuoso, but be it performance anxiety, crippling shyness, or just a total dislike for the company of others he never played his songs for anyone.  For that matter he never took on an apprentice.  He lived in the wilds for from others and traveled only to avoid people.  Eburacon probably lived and died in obscurity, and no one these days would have ever known he existed, much less that he was one of the greatest bards to ever live, had it not been for his song book.  It is full of some of the strangest and most wonderful songs known to man.  Reading directly from the book is very difficult as it's all in nearly indecipherable notation.  Transcribing a copy is out of the question, but harpers are a very crafty bunch of code breakers.  A number of the guild's harpers have studied the book, deciphering and learning a few of Eburacon's  wonderful songs and spells and passing them on to others."

"Yes, we harpers are a crafty bunch, we are.  One particularly slick fellow by the name of Jacob, who is NOT a Ferrisedan I might add, was crafty enough to convince the guild to let him have the song book and set off on a journey with it.  He went off to Triplefang lands and hasn't been seen or heard from since.  How he pulled this off, I have no idea, but he's gone and the book with him.  Did the scoundrel steal it, making us all look the fool?  Maybe he took it with intentions of returning and some misfortune befell poor Jacob.  No matter the circumstances, the guild wants the book back.  Genessa is willing to pay you 2500 gold for its safe return.  Not too shabby, huh?  I'll be siphoning off 250 gold for myself for brokering the deal like it or not, since you won't share any juicy info."

"Oh, I think she'd like Jacob back too, be it the rescue of one of our fellow guild members or bringing back a thief to be strung up."

"So there's the lucrative one.  The second job is small change by comparison, but it's along the way and sounds pretty easy."

"As chance would have it another pair of anti-social fellows play into the second job too.  There's a hermit named Pippen who lives in the lowlands valley between Kammarra and Crim.  An Author named Arthur has a sealed letter he wants delivered in person to Pippen.  Pelor only knows why.  Arthur is a strange and objectionable coot who does nothing but hurl outlandish insults at anyone who visits him.  Lucky for you, you will not have to go see him.  Genessa has the letter and will pay you 50 gold to deliver it.  Now if you ask me, that's crazy, but so is Arthur, and likely Pippen the Hermit is too, so I guess sanity doesn't much play into it."

Farden cocks his eyebrow at the others. "Well, fellow clan members? This sounds like the most straightforward assignment out of all the others we've managed to locate in this city. Unless you're willing to consider the others, I say we're taking this one."

In reply to Fritzholm (msg #640):

"I think the gremlins are just the symptom of the greater problem, the cracks which i'm led to believe are the source of their appearances.  Close these cracks and the gremlin problem should resolve itself in time.  I havent see these crack, so i have no idea what it would entail to close one, if they can be closed at all."

"Finding a crack that leaks gremlins should be no problem for a bona-fide frost sorceress.  You've probably got yourself a wand just for the job.  If you do find one of them cracks down in a mine someplace old Oslo here can drop the shaft on it.  *BOOM* problem solved.  'cept for all the gremlin still running around, that is."

"What did you say your name was?"

"Thank you Samuel, these are good opportunities.  By the way, did you hear anything about the the song the proctor mentioned that he said prophesied about us?" Glums says to the harper.  And to his friends he says "I think we should take the job.  We can make the delivery for the small job on the way.  What say you all?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:55, Mon 17 Jan 2011.

Mord nods his head and grunts in approval.

Holly had not taken part in any of the discussions, or finding of jobs, and more importantly she was happy for others to decide their path for the moment. She would prefer not to be away from Moonlight for too long, but at least they would be out of the city. She had never realised just how powerful the feeling of being trapped inside the walls, and by the buildings. Perhaps it was from her families heritage of the open sea, or her childhood with her cousins on the plains, but her first city was an experience she would have gladly done without.

"I agree, we go with Glumr's and Mord suggestion. We'll find more as we go along I'm sure."

Farden sighs and rubs his head. This job certainly sounded the most attractive - a relatively known threat, and an assured reward. "It certainly sounds like the best option. I say yes to both. Let's get this show started."

In reply to Fritzholm (msg #644):

"Snow...  Snow Triplefang.", Snow nods to herself at his explanation, "So the cracks arent the problem.  You can just collapse earth and stone on them to solve the problem.  The greater issue it would seem is the gremlins."

She shakes her head with an amused smile, "I'd like to say it were that easy, but i've never seen these cracks, and while they're resistant to magic, they're not innately magical, which makes detecting them trickier.  Once found i believe i can rid you of them though.  My magics are a little more effective than incense."

"I haven't heard anything about it.  Maybe Aberdan made it up on the spot.  He's a joker," says Samuel with a shrug.

Samuel gives you directions to the Harpers' Guild Hall.  "Ask for Genessa."



It's a bit late to be heading over there today, but after your morning meal the next day you all walk over to the Harpers' Guild Hall.  You discover that Genessa is actually THE master harper, leader of the whole guild.  Even so she's very accessible.

"So you're the Triplefang folks in need of gold.  Nice to meet you.  I'm Genessa.  I have to be honest, you're younger than I expected.  And what's this?" she says, asking about the eye.

Genessa reminds you of a young version of the Triplefang elders.  She comes off as wise and personable with more presence than the elders.  She's the sort of leader Tora asked you to look for, but she's busy leading the harpers and not part of the Triplefang clan and might not have any tactical prowess.  Oh well.

"Thank you for going after Jacob and the songbook.  I never should've let that book leave the city.  There was either an unlucky series of events or a well planned plot. I don't have enough evidence to draw a conclusion either way.   Jacob is smart and resourceful.  I wouldn't put it past him."

She gives you a very precisely detailed description of the harper, which will come in very handy since "It's possible he'll be in disguise or working under an alias."

"Last we knew he was headed for Crim.  You can ask around there for leads.  If he stole the book and wanted to sell it he'd probably head for Silvergate.  That's what I'd do.  This will all be familiar territory for you.  Better to have Triplefang looking for him.  I don't suppose I have to tell you to try to be discrete just in case.  If he gets wind of you he might go to ground or run."

It sure sounds like she thinks he stole the songbook.

You remind her about the letter for the hermit.

"Oh that's right.  That's been sitting around here for a while."  She excuses herself shortly to go get the bound letter.  "You might be wondering why one of our harpers doesn't just grab it and go deliver it herself.  After all, 50 gold is good money!  It turns out that no one likes Arthur.  That guy is an unsavory character at best. No one wants anything to do with him.  Best that you haven't met him.  Personally, I don't know much about the fellow you're delivering it to, Pippen.  Maybe he's just as bad."

Genessa gives you another nicely detailed description, but this time of the area where Pippen is supposed to live.  Plenty of landmarks and directions.  You shouldn't have much trouble finding it.

She counts out 50 coins by touch into a pouch.

"Normally, we don't pay before delivery, but I think you might be able to use the extra gold along the way for this other job. I will however need..."

The master harper looks you over, resting her gaze eventually on Mord.

"...your word that you will deliver the letter to none other than the hermit Pippen unopened, and return to our guild hall to swear the delivery is complete."

She holds the pouch and letter out to him, awaiting the promise.

"Lady, no offense, but giving up on 50 gold just so you don't have to deliver someone's letter isn't merely a case of dislike. It falls into outright hatred and fear. I'd like you to tell us exactly what makes this Arthur character so unsavory. And why you agreed to deliver his letter in the first place, if he's such a no-gooder."

Glumr is feeling good.  The group is getting ready.  Travel being planned.  He's ready to be back on the road and into the wilderness.  He spends the evening at the inn cleaning his leathers and washing himself, sharpening his scimitar, and checking his gear for the up coming trip.

Is there a cost associated for the water from the inn and what not?

In the morning, Glumr is in good spirits when the go visit the harpers.  He likes the people in the guild and the songs the sing and perform.  Glumr would probably try and get an apprenticeship to the guild if he thought anyone other than the trees would appreciate his singing voice.

At the guild, he answers Genessa question about the eye.

"My Lady" Glumr says to her "We randomly met this eye in our travels.  We are able to have some slight communication with it, but really know very little.  I believe it used to be a person, and someone has changed it into this.   All I can say is that Mr. Eye has been a valuable traveling companion and he has my respects.  I would gladly have him at my side.  I hope to help him accomplish the goals or whatever is driving him to be in our lands."    All that being said, Glumr isnt really sure what those goals are or that the eye was actually human, but those things arent that important to the context of why he is here.

----

Glumr is a taken back a bit by Fardens forwardness with the guild leader.  But Glumr's mother kind of elevated such folk so that it seems wrong to address them without extra respect and ceremony.  He shrugs it off and figures the guild leader is used to dealing with folk rougher and less civilized than his group.

Genessa is mildly taken aback and gives Farden a funny look before resuming her normal repose.
(LOL  I swear I wrote "taken aback" in my post before reading Glumr's response.)

"There might be some hatred, but I can't think of anyone who fears Arthur.  He did some important projects for the empire when he was younger and amassed himself some wealth.  Now he's lost his marbles and he's off on wacky pet projects.  If you're too worried about it, feel free to turn down the job.  You won't be the first."

"The trip itself isn't that far, and its not unsafe either."

Genessa is referring to the Rankor Heights to Utsk to Kammara via ferry route.  Going around the Loch is certainly more dangerous, but there's no reason why someone couldn't take a small package like this by ferry.

"The letter might've been delivered months ago if he was only offering 10 gold, but that's not my call.  We're just the middle men on this one."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:53, Thu 20 Jan 2011.

"There are so many oddities in this world," she says to Glumr.  "It's good to see you've come to accept this strange eye when others might shun him."

"Mr Eye.  It is nice to meet you."

The eye responds by bobbing midair and firing off an elaborate tune.  Genessa and other harpers are happily surprised and amused by it.  He's chosen something really dramatic.  This is easily the best song you've heard the eye conjure up.  The eye's music plays in the background while you continue your conversation.

"Hey!"  Genessa interrupts.   "I know this song!" she says with a look of shock on her face.

"It's from Eburacon's book."

Your conversation halts and a hush falls upon the hall as everyone listens to the song.

Glumr is literally speechless from Genessa's comment.  He doesnt know what this means.  Genessa and the others he has met have not had any notion of what the eye is.  Glumr decides he's going to spend some more time with the eye and figure out a way to better communicate with it.  There's a long road ahead so they have nothing but time to work out a method.  Some simple communication could perhaps help them find this book of music.

Glumr just realizes that on his quest for one book, he must take a quest for another book.  Never having a need for a book in his life, it feels odd to him now because it's almost as if everything driving him is related to books.

I'm going to wrap up this chapter when you leave Rankor Heights, so I went though and calculated experience point awards.

Here are the chapter 3 experience awards for each of the original four Triplefang:

150 exp for battling the wildcats
200 exp for defacing the goblin shrine
350 exp for the narrow defeat of the goblins and hobgoblin
300 exp for kiling the dire badgers
100 exp for negotiating the sale of the Tome
----
1125 exp

Much to my surprise that brings you to 3090 exp which is enough for 3rd level!

I'm going to start Farden off half way to 3rd level so he wont be so far behind the rest of the party.  He gets the 100 exp for the Tome of legends negotiation which brings him up to 2100 exp.

Please send me private messages about what new skills, feats, spells, and abilities you're getting, so I can try to weave them into the pre-Rankor narrative.  Remember that you can either roll for HP (don't whine if you get a 1!) or take the average rounded up.  (I suggest the average rounded up.)

Now get out there and get Farden some more experience so he can advance to 3rd level too.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:12, Thu 22 Mar 2012.

Farden purses his lips, clearly unhappy with the woman's response. His response is temporarily interrupted by the Eye's musical performance, and he spends a bit pondering this new mystery. Then, putting this out of his mind, he addresses Genessa once more, as soon as the music finishes. "Help me out here. See, all I'm hearing are vague generalities. Is there any specific reason why people are so unfriendly towards Arthur? Are his pet projects that disturbing? Or is it simply that people want to have nothing to do with those who seem a bit loony? Details would be nice. Helps us assess any risk involved."

OOC: Is this the GM not having fleshed out the details, or is this woman stalling? Farden is ready to believe the worst =P

OOC:  It's the GM not trying to give too much away so that things will be more surprising and amusing when revealed.  Thorough preparation and briefing is a good thing.  You're certainly playing it right.  Just believe me that this one isn't going to bite you in the ass.

Genessa shakes her head.

"If you want details about Arthur's dislikable nature, nothing could possibly enlighten you more than a visit with the man himself.  He's a fanatical reader and writer, and has proven himself to be an asset to our proctor on occasion.  I'd love to send you over to the scribe hall at the temple of Pelor to meet Arthur, that being a somewhat familiar place for you, but sadly he has worn out his welcome there and has to do his business elsewhere.  He's taken up a stall in the public market where he can dispense his thoughts to passers by."

Genessa gives you simple directions to find his stall in the market.  Farden thinks back about travels through that area, but can't summon up any memories of anything too out of the ordinary.

Since there's been no motion by the stoic Mord Triplefang to either make the promise or take the letter, Genessa sets the pouch of gold and small, bound package down next to her.

The phrase 'asset to the proctor' relaxes Farden somewhat. The thing he'd been most worried about - political ramifications - seemed to be absent in this case. "Thank you, we'll look in on Arthur. However, I'm agreeable to provisionally accepting the assignment. WHat about the rest of you?"

OOC: Am I the only one who's read The Count of Monte Cristo?

Holly nodded to Farden, happy enough to take on the task, especially as it might give them more information on the eye and its background. Shuffling her feet, she looked up into the sky, gauging the weather and time as she waited to move on.

"I am for accepting this quest.  I fear not the interactions revolving around this letter. It seems to be a trivial thing.  I am greatly excited at the chance to find out more about Mr. Eye and how he has come to know such tunes."  Glumr says to his companions as well as Genessa.

"Let us prepare and speak with Arthur before we leave."

OCC - Have not read it.  I gotta research a bit before I figure out what I'm doing with a level up. :D

Genessa does not stay staggered by this turn of events for long.

"There are only about 30 people from our guild who know this song well enough to play it.  Within a week I can probably account for most if not all of them.  Of course, Mr Eye could have learned the song from Eburacon himself... or vice versa, I suppose.  When I said Eburacon had no apprentices I meant no human apprentices.  It's possible something else learned from him.  Could Eburacon have been changed into this floating eye?  Anything is possible."

"It's all very intriguing."

She turns back to Mord.

"If I am to give you this letter and payment for its delivery, I need your word that it'll be delivered to Pippen unopened, and that you'll return here to report that the delivery has been made."

"Also, Arthur didn't want you to tell Pippen who the letter was from until he read it."

"Genessa, would you please inquire if anyone who knows this song has a notion this eye fellow exists?   Or has taught it to anyone else. Or if anyone who knows it is missing."  Glumr explains his line of thinking to Genessa and his friends

"My thought is that since it is such a specific song that we could trace all who know it from the original.  If we can eliminate everyone, then we can make the assumption that Eburacon was involved."

In Triplefang lands the early part of the summer gets the vast majority of the rain.  That season is drawing to a close.  Forcasting the weather for the next couple of months will be simple - Sunny, warm to hot, with an occasional very brief afternoon thunderstorm or small shower maybe once every couple weeks.  Today is no exception from the norm, warm and clear.  This would be an excellent time to be traveling if you weren't headed for that awful marshy mire so near The Dark Woods.

It's still about two or three weeks before the grasslands grow dry and you need to worry about wildfires.  That's when the hottest days come.  For now it's quite pleasant.

The moon is almost exactly half lit and growing towards the full moon.