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14:14, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King.

Posted by Dungeon MasterFor group 0
Beloc S'Viscus
player, 355 posts
Wood Elf
Fighter/Druid - Gestault
Sat 30 Dec 2017
at 05:35
  • msg #85

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

"I'd as soon as relieve their heads from their shoulders than talk to them, but that's not what we're here for."
R.E.B.O.R.T.
Warforged, 163 posts
Fighter
Artificer
Sat 30 Dec 2017
at 05:35
  • msg #86

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

A decision needs to be made. Too much debate and arguing will only draw their attention and force one for us.
Dungeon Master
GM, 367 posts
Roller of Dice
Giver of Trinkets
Sat 30 Dec 2017
at 05:37
  • msg #87

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

All - Roll Perception
Shiaran Whiteraven
player, 325 posts
Human
Wizard/Rogue Gestault
Sat 30 Dec 2017
at 05:48
  • msg #88

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

Shiaran continues to glare at Luutvig but reaches into a pouch subtly.  "Great.  They heard your ego from a mile away.  Kanina mati den mopey na me Fri na kinetic eh na energeso an den keno kinese enantia den autous."  She winks out of sight.
Sypher Whiteraven
player, 242 posts
Human
Paladin/Monk - Gestault
Sat 30 Dec 2017
at 05:49
  • msg #89

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

Sypher takes cue from Shiaran and draws his sword, brandishing it as if threating the barbarian (and hoping bugbears don't understand common well enough to understand through his growling speech).  "They are here.  Arm yourself."
R.E.B.O.R.T.
Warforged, 164 posts
Fighter
Artificer
Sat 30 Dec 2017
at 16:43
  • msg #90

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

The gem in R.E.B.O.R.T's chest pulses and a familiar British voice can be heard. "It seems they have chosen for us."

With a whirring and clicking of gears, the compartments in his forearms open up and two modified RG-44's pop up and reassemble. Twelve distinct clicks can be heard as ammo is automatically loaded. The weapon on his left arm glows as an infusion is rapidly cast into it.

R.E.B.O.R.T. places the Bane (goblinoid) enchantment on 1 weapon.
Beloc S'Viscus
player, 356 posts
Wood Elf
Fighter/Druid - Gestault
Sat 30 Dec 2017
at 16:47
  • msg #91

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

Beloc tosses his shield into the air and he begins hovering protectively in front of him. His armor expands outward from the amulet and he reaches for his weapon. "Cut through them, it is."
Sypher Whiteraven
player, 243 posts
Human
Paladin/Monk - Gestault
Sat 30 Dec 2017
at 16:55
  • msg #92

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

Sypher steps back from the barbarians and near Rebort.  He keeps his voice low.  "Can you manage without guns?"
R.E.B.O.R.T.
Warforged, 165 posts
Fighter
Artificer
Sat 30 Dec 2017
at 17:04
  • msg #93

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

R.E.B.O.R.T. shakes his head in the negative. "I was built on the premise of new technology. Firearms were the only weaponry I was outfitted with. I could beat them with the stock of my rifle, but that seems hardly efficient. Survival here seems paramount to offending the locals."
Sypher Whiteraven
player, 244 posts
Human
Paladin/Monk - Gestault
Sat 30 Dec 2017
at 17:14
  • msg #94

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

Sypher nods and smiles.  "We'll have to work on that.  Do your best, my friend.  Don't hold back."  He turns to face the bushes and the trees, looking for the targets.
Dungeon Master
GM, 368 posts
Roller of Dice
Giver of Trinkets
Mon 1 Jan 2018
at 21:17
  • msg #95

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

Toki and Luutvig both fan out, traveling in a direction opposite the rustling, bows drawn and arrows nocked. A silence sets in over the plains, and the only sound heard is the wind brushing through the grass. Nothing else moves or stirs. No grunts, no war cries, or calls to arms. Seconds tick by and turn to minutes, with everyone waiting on bated breath for the first blow to be struck.
Beloc S'Viscus
player, 357 posts
Wood Elf
Fighter/Druid - Gestault
Tue 2 Jan 2018
at 00:48
  • msg #96

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

R.E.B.O.R.T. stands his ground, scanning the area, while Beloc glances at the rest of the group. A little uneasy that nothing popped up over the, he starts to slowly move towards the top of the ridge.
Dungeon Master
GM, 369 posts
Roller of Dice
Giver of Trinkets
Tue 2 Jan 2018
at 00:56
  • msg #97

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

As Beloc reaches the top of the hill, a giant hare comes bounding out of the tall grasses, running left and right, unsure of which way is best for escape. Aside from nearly causing him to cleave the thing in two, Beloc is no worse for the wear.

Down below, he can clearly see a wallowed out spot in the shallow trough between hills, with lots of grass knocked down. Blood, entrails, and several carcasses of some sort of deer species native to the area are strewn around on the ground. The bugbears are nowhere to be found though. The grasses adjoining the site are pressed down, going in a direction that leads away from the group. Several hills over is a larger hill with a rocky outcropping around its base. The tracks look to have lead that direction.
Shiaran Whiteraven
player, 326 posts
Human
Wizard/Rogue Gestault
Tue 2 Jan 2018
at 01:12
  • msg #98

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

Shiaran remains invisibile.
Dungeon Master
GM, 370 posts
Roller of Dice
Giver of Trinkets
Tue 2 Jan 2018
at 01:39
  • msg #99

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

High overhead Shiaran's raven Leukos, makes for the rocky outcropping.
Luutvig
NPC, 6 posts
Human
Barbarian
Tue 2 Jan 2018
at 01:40
  • msg #100

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

Luutvig finally takes notice of the raven. "A raven? Out dis far? Dis is a good sign for us. Dey are messengers for de gods".
Sypher Whiteraven
player, 245 posts
Human
Paladin/Monk - Gestault
Tue 2 Jan 2018
at 01:46
  • msg #101

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

Sypher struggles to keep a straight face and nods sagely at Luutvig.  He continues to look around, but begins to relax his stance somewhat.  "I that rabbit is the extent of their ambush."
Toki
NPC, 3 posts
Human
Barbarian
Tue 2 Jan 2018
at 01:54
  • msg #102

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

Both Luutvig and Toki make their way to where the hare once was, and look down to see the remains of the bugbear camp below. "De hare was probably cornered between us and dem. I haf to wonder dough.. Surely de krûnenberngen could haf heard us over dis hill. For dem to not even send a scout is troubling. Dats no sort of behavior I'fe ever seen of dem, and I'fe put all my finger an' toes worf of dem down. An I agree Luutvig, de raven is indeed a goot sign of fortune".
Shiaran Whiteraven
player, 327 posts
Human
Wizard/Rogue Gestault
Tue 2 Jan 2018
at 01:58
  • msg #103

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

Shiaran reaches the group, but remains invisible.  Her voice is clearly heard, though.  "There is a cave not far from here.  This area is empty of predators, too.  Something is not connecting here.  We may be up against something more than a few goblinoids."
Luutvig
NPC, 7 posts
Human
Barbarian
Tue 2 Jan 2018
at 02:23
  • msg #104

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

Luutvig looks around, bewildered, having already turned away before Shiaran went invisible. "Vhere are you voman?".

Toki, being a bit more perceptive than his counterpart, chuckles. "She is a shaman Luutvig. She passes like de vind".

"I don't like it. It isn't natural".

"It is more dan natural. An' tank you for de update Shee-ran. If deres a cave, den dat's vhere dey fled. Eidder dey knew ve vas here, and dey're baiting us in, or someting else spooked dem. Someting dat ve missed. Vhatever it vas, I'm tinking now vould be a goot time to make our way far from dis place. De behavior of de krûnenberngen is de unnatural ting here, an' I haf no intention of finding out vhy in de present time. Ve can let de Jarl know ve found anodder vone of dier hiding holes. He'll know vhat to do".
Shiaran Whiteraven
player, 328 posts
Human
Wizard/Rogue Gestault
Tue 2 Jan 2018
at 02:29
  • msg #105

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

"I'm going to appear now.  Nobody try to stab me."  After waiting for the revelation to register, Shiaran wills the spell to end and appears next to Sypher.  Then she calls up the hill just loud enough for him to hear.  "Beloc.  We're leaving."  She turns back to Toki.  Her smile is one indicating friendship and trust.  "Lead on, my friend."
Beloc S'Viscus
player, 358 posts
Wood Elf
Fighter/Druid - Gestault
Tue 2 Jan 2018
at 17:37
  • msg #106

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

Beloc warily steps back from the ridge. "Something... definitely amiss here." He walks over to Apache and pats him on the shoulder. "Come, boy. Keep your nose to the winds."

He rejoins the others, armor retracting back into the amulet.
Dungeon Master
GM, 371 posts
Roller of Dice
Giver of Trinkets
Wed 3 Jan 2018
at 01:21
  • msg #107

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

Along the walk to Vaaringard, Toki and Luutvig are more talkative than they were along the first leg of the journey. They tell of the proud people they belong to, and of their noble, albeit ageing leader Crasmar, who rallied the broken, disbanded, and shattered tribes of Fildegarne under one banner to rise up slay the red dragon menace. They tell of cultural rites of passage for children in to adulthood. Both boys and girls accompany a hunting party to kill a stag or boar in the eastern woods, to be served as part of the banquet at an annual feast called Kierst-rin, or "Coming of Age". All members of the clan, no matter their age, sex, or race, learn to fight. They prefer isolation from the outside world, because they are a proud people, and believe that if they can't stand on their own, that they don't deserve to stand at all. They don't generally care for the elves, but they don't hate them either. They have a warrior's respect for them, despite their sometimes frequent not seeing eye to eye.

They cherish strength and self reliance above all, and have a disdain for those who wont fight for themselves (which is further explained as not having a disdain for the weak, but a disdain for the lazy).

All Fyreworm men and women are both hunters and farmers. The populous is spread among hamlets and villages with their own governing body, a Jarl, who oversees at least three settlements and reports directly to the Chief (Crasmar) and his adviser Irja Ginnar, a Fyreworm shield maiden who has proven herself in battle many times over. They make it a point of distinction though that she isn't a wife or consort. The chief's wife passed away 24 years prior in childbirth with Crasmar's only child, a son named Sigurd. He has since never remarried, or taken another woman (at least, that anyone knows of).

The Fyreworms are excellent cave explorers, having made a kinship with the dwarves under the Shattered Top, as well as having about a quarter of their people living underground in the cave networks that twist and wind under the pains and beyond. They too are hunters and farmers, living in the light of bio-luminescent mushrooms and molds. They also act as a bulwark against the denizens of the underworld, giving them good reason to stay put rather than try to breach the surface in large numbers.

Toki explains that now that he has thought on the matter, the bugbears from earlier would have been a foraging party, but that also meant a bugbear camp or even larger settlement wouldn't have been too far down the cave that was spotted.

Magic user are rare among the Fyreworms, and are called shaman. The women of the clan seem to have more of an affinity for spell work than the men.

They worship two gods that are twin brothers, Vignor and Rhornur. Vignor is associated with strength and battle, while Rhornur is associated with cunning and magic. The men mostly pay homage to Vignor, while the women mostly to Rhornur, but both men and women honor both for fear of making the other jealous and being turned away at the gates to the afterlife, which they call Siegendurn.


Several hours since the trek resumed, the party now stands in sight of a large city a few miles out. Its high walls extend out from a natural recess in the side of the mountain, and stretch outward in a half circle. Watch towers line the wall, and the shapes of men standing guard can be faintly made out atop the parapets. Behind the walls, numerous building tops can be seen, with a large central castle tucked further back, presumably butting up against the stone face of the mountain. Wood and stone from this distance are all the civilization seems to be made of, and in many way, it feels like stepping back through time by looking at it.

"Vell, dere it is. Vaaringard, de city of Varriors".
Shiaran Whiteraven
player, 329 posts
Human
Wizard/Rogue Gestault
Wed 3 Jan 2018
at 02:53
  • msg #108

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

"Thank you for bringing us here.  Please, take us to the Jarl."
Sypher Whiteraven
player, 246 posts
Human
Paladin/Monk - Gestault
Wed 3 Jan 2018
at 03:02
  • msg #109

Episode Four: In the Halls of the Mountain King

Along the trip, Sypher will have exchanged stories of his childhood growing up as an orphan in the monastery not too far from there in Mirn.  He leaves out the reason for his orphanage and fails to mention that Shiaran is his sister, though he does talk about them growing up together.  He does all that he can to engender a bond with these men, both out of genuine camaraderie and to help further their petition before the Jarl.

Part of this is relaying tales of his and Shiaran's exploits the last two years before the fateful return home on the airship.  The normally reticent monk has a loquacious side when he gets going.  He tells of bandits and goblins, a bugbear who fancied himself a chieftain over a motley crew of kobolds, and a local wizard who turned out to be more than he seemed, poisoning the town and blaming it on the local apothecary out of anger at being spurned by her.  They had saved her from being burned at the stake as a witch just in time, though the wizard had fled before they could catch him.

Once they arrive at the town, Sypher returns to his more quieted self and allows Shiaran to take the lead as was her wont.
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