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10:29, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Chapter 2: Bryn Shander.

Posted by DM BearsFor group 0
DM Bears
GM, 1105 posts
Thu 5 May 2022
at 20:28
  • msg #175

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

"Mess kit. Hooks. Crowbar. Hammer. Stockfish. Unbelievable hard to get a hold off, which isn't surprising considering the lack of sun to dry with. Saltfish, too, is getting sparser." Moyrah opened the bag, finding some of the aforementioned food among the other items. She undid the wrappings, and the pungent smell of fermented fish was set free. After biting into it and tearing off a piece she extended it her friends' way. "Want some?"
Mallory Bonheur
Wizard, 803 posts
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Thu 5 May 2022
at 21:14
  • msg #176

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

Fresh fish and molluscs pulled right out of the sea and onto the kitchen table was more Mallory's fare growing up.  Neverwinter was a metropolis with more visitors each day than most cities had in total population; a true hub of unique trade, customs, and thus culinary wonder perched on the coastal cliffs with all the bounty of the sea and land at its disposal.  It should've been no surprise at all that the mere smell of such heavy fermentation was enough to wrinkle Mallory's nose and she gingerly raised a hand to refuse the offer...

"Mrrm." Astre chimed in with a pointed look up at his companion.  She just glowered at him in return before, despite the offensive odor set to her nose, took the piece anyway.

"Well I can't help it if I haven't eaten today, alright?  It's been rather difficult to conjure an appetite." she griped right back at him even as she relented to his demands.  A hesitant bite came down on the corner of the dried fish... which promptly had to turn into her using both hands and a fair bit of unbecoming gnawing to actually wrestle off a chunk to struggle through.  "Nngg... mng... thn'goo, Mrr-rah."  Talking with a mouthful was terrible manners, but it was the best she could offer in thanks before she realized she'd be there forever chewing away and forced herself to choke down the bite all at once.

"You know, someday quite soon, I think I'd like very much to take you around my stomping grounds, Moyrah.  There's a string of restaurants right along the coast with such fresh seafood like you've never dreamed.  Spicy bouillabaisse, Daintyfish skewers, grilled eels, great stone bowls heaped with crispy paella..." Lamentations over delightful meals in days past did little to rally the noble's flagging spirits, nor make the salted jerky any more appetizing.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:16, Thu 05 May 2022.
DM Bears
GM, 1106 posts
Thu 5 May 2022
at 22:20
  • msg #177

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

Moyrah chuckled as she watched Mallory fought with the fish, finding her troubles amusing. "Pretty good, right?" she asked, chomping down some more of her own. She, of course, by the virtue of having spent her whole life in its presence and strong, powerful Half-Orc teeth, possessed no trouble with the tenacious food. "Those restaurants do sound amusing. The view of the ocean, the thronging streets. Someday, when I travel southward, I shall visit Neverwinter. Though I doubt their food is better than ours!" She wiggled the stockfish for emphasis. It wasn't entirely unfamiliar to the Sword Coast as a whole, as the Ten-Towns exported a fair deal of the commodity.
Rhydd Maldhon
Fighter, 439 posts
AC:15; HP:42/42; Init:+3
PPer:14; PIns:12; PInv:10
Sat 7 May 2022
at 02:51
  • msg #178

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

Rhydd had never favored fish. It smelled bad before you cooked it, and it smelled only slightly less bad after you had cooked it. Sometimes, when his choices were limited, he had caught and cooked fish over an open fire.

But since they were at an inn, he figured that he did have a choice. "Something that's not fish. Something with chicken or pork," he said to the person who had come around to inquire whether the group wanted to order from the menu. "You know what's good. Pick something for me." He also ordered a flagon of thick, dark Dwarven ale.

He pursed his lips as he watched Lady Mallory pick up a piece of fish with both hands and gnaw at it. To his way of thinking, it seemed rather out-of-character for the normally very proper Southron noblewoman.

Rhydd understood that the business with the Simul-whatever had been very disconcerting for the young wizardess. In spite of his best efforts to convince her that her magicks were very mild compared to the alternative forms of questioning that could have been brought to bear, he felt certain that her digging into the mind and thoughts of the magicked creature had somehow felt wrong to her.

In an effort to get Mallory to thinking about something other than all that had happened earlier in the day, he asked her "So. Where do you think we should go, next? Your opinion, I mean."
Mallory Bonheur
Wizard, 804 posts
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Sat 7 May 2022
at 03:20
  • msg #179

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

Rhydd wasn't far off the mark - normally Mallory's sheer dedication to etiquette would prevent her from such uncouth mannerisms.  But a combination of her stomach being devoid of anything but wine and her open fondness for Moyrah seemed enough to get her to branch out a bit.  Though it did seem the more she tried to work through the dried fish the less she could actually bring herself to manage.

"Boar or venison would be lovely, come to think of it..." she noted on the matter of menu.  The next time Moyrah happened to look away, Mallory stealthily turned aside and waved a quick surge of cleaning magic across her mouth to purge her tongue of the lingering fermented flavor.

The topic of where their future laid, however, brought the noble's focus back around more squarely.  She leaned back a bit in her seat and crossed her arms as she pondered over the matter.  "Hmn.  Well, I suppose it does ultimately depend on what everyone else has been able to glean around town.  But I'm personally of a mind to try and find those poor souls Dzaan lured out east in search of his so-called spire.  Whatever was hidden there was something he desperately craved.  An intact Netherese ruin is certainly a tempting treasure trove all its own, but their lives are more important." A scowl fell across her delicately painted lips.  It had been quite a bit since Dzaan sent the adventurers out into danger and the likelihood they were already dead was incredibly high to begin with.  She couldn't deny that possibility no matter how much she hoped otherwise.  "If there's even a chance they're still out there holding on, it's a worthy risk to try and save them."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:23, Sat 07 May 2022.
Rhydd Maldhon
Fighter, 440 posts
AC:15; HP:42/42; Init:+3
PPer:14; PIns:12; PInv:10
Sat 7 May 2022
at 17:54
  • msg #180

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

"I'd be fine with something like that," Rhydd replied. "It will get me away from being hemmed in by so-called civilization."

The archer thought for a moment. "These Netherese . . . they're very old, right? I mean, they lived a long time ago."
Mallory Bonheur
Wizard, 805 posts
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Sat 7 May 2022
at 18:46
  • msg #181

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

"You've a masterful touch for understatement, Rhydd." Mallory afforded him a genuine smile that managed to bear itself through the wan manner she'd carried.  For a moment she tipped into thoughtful reverie as memories of oh so many lengthy history lectures rose to the fore.  Given that Rhydd had already been able to spot when the young noble would ready herself to go into a lengthy lecture of her own, he'd have a moment to brace himself as Mallory drew her bearing up for prim oration.

"Yes, the Netherese society as we know it founded itself well over five thousand years ago and endured for several millennia.  Theirs was a glorious, golden era of abundance and creation like none the world had known, nor has ever since.  They wielded powers beyond imagination that defy the understanding of modern arcanists, lived in flying cities that soared above the very clouds.  The truest pinnacle of mankind's potential, ascended from humble origin to reckon with the gods themselves."

A glowing review, perhaps, but one that was promptly snuffed as Mallory shook her head with a deep, pitying sigh.  "All brought to utter ruin in a matter of hours by the hubris of a single man." She shrugged helplessly on that note.  "The fall of the High Netheril is the ultimate warning to all arcanists, such as myself, to never repeat those mistakes.  For all the wonders they brought to bear, so too did the Neth embody the very worst of what we may become.  Unfettered gluttony, cruelty beyond speaking for the sake of amusement.  Their own people divided into callous castes.  Their fall was caused by one arcanist's desperate power grab that not only destroyed them, but slew a goddess and left scars upon mankind that we still bear to this very day."

Her gloved hand curled down to cup along Astre's head so that she could scratch about his chin, which earned a purr of approval from her feline friend.  "They weren't all bad, though.  They were responsible for the invention of most of modern spellcraft, including the ritual that brought me and Astre together."  They also invented the spell that conjured Dzaan's Simulacrum, she inwardly noted, but made no mention of in the moment.  "You may not recognize them, but I guarantee you've walked amidst the ruins of Netherese cities yourself many times, Rhydd.  The bones of their lost empire are scattered endlessly across the entirety of Faerun."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:02, Sat 07 May 2022.
DM Bears
GM, 1107 posts
Sat 7 May 2022
at 21:13
  • msg #182

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

Moyrah chomped down on the last bits of her piece of stockfish. She'd save the rest for later — gods knew they were to covet in these times. "If there's this spire, or tower, or whatever, out there in the tundra, how come I haven't heard of it before? Icewind Dale is big, but not that big. People venture out toward the tundra on occasion, and that's not even speaking of the Regheds who live there. Eh," she shrugged. "Maybe this just isn't the sort of thing to reach the common ear."
Mallory Bonheur
Wizard, 806 posts
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Sat 7 May 2022
at 23:08
  • msg #183

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

A fair question, but one Mallory could ultimately only shrug over.  "If I had to venture a guess, I'd say it was probably buried beneath the snow until recently.  An earthquake, or perhaps the endless blizzards, pushing frost about may have unearthed it.  The majority of intact Netherese ruins are almost entirely below the earth with only portions poking up here and there.  Though without seeing Dzaan's notes, I couldn't say for certain how he located it in the first place." she gave a flippant wave of her mug-holding hand that would've risked sloshing some drink out had she not already nearly emptied it herself.  "Surely you've heard of so-called 'dungeon divers' - adventurous sorts who trek into subterranean enclaves full of traps and monsters and such nonsense?  Quite a lot of those are indeed just half-buried Netherese ruins."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:09, Sat 07 May 2022.
Torgrim Squallborn
Rogue, 146 posts
AC:14 HP:31/31 Init: +3
PPer:11; PIns:13; PInv:11
Sun 8 May 2022
at 19:31
  • msg #184

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

"Maybe this just isn't the sort of thing to reach the common ear."

"Not the common ear perhaps, but it seems word is spreading by the minute among the clientele of the Northlook." Torgrim remarked in between bites of fermented fish. "There were quite a few rumours of riches and glory going around, and the tower among them."

"I've always thought the idea of a dungeon diver life has some appeal to it. Traps, monsters AND treasure? What's not to love? I'm in if you are."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Sun 08 May 2022.
Mallory Bonheur
Wizard, 807 posts
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Sun 8 May 2022
at 23:21
  • msg #185

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

"Traps, monsters AND treasure? What's not to love?"

"The traps and monsters." Mallory promptly retorted in a dry deadpan.  Her idea of making money was more business-focused or being the one to supply resources to dungeon divers, not to be one herself.  Perhaps it would be more palatable if she tried to think of it as an archeological project?  There was plenty to learn from Netherese ruins, after all, and they were still one of the best sources of magical items that managed to survive the Spellplague over a century ago.  Perhaps a modicum of peril was worth the profit.

"Regardless, we should take this opportunity to aggregate our knowledge.  What has everyone learned in their time about Bryn Shander so far?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:21, Sun 08 May 2022.
Khulekani Kumalo
Paladin, 94 posts
Radiant Heart Auxiliary
"Courage can be a light."
Mon 9 May 2022
at 19:45
  • msg #186

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

"If you are fond of delving into subterranean lairs of monsters both deadly and sanity-fraying, for entertainment and profit, might I suggest taking up with a knightly order, Master Squallborn? I may be able to put in a good word for you with a certain organization..." Khulekani said with a small smile as she approached the group that she had been apparently thrown into by the town authorities.

"I have learned many strange things since I arrived here. The religious practices of this community are...questionable at best. The dead do not rest easy here. But it is not all bad. These are a hearty people, and I suspect most of them will survive the current crisis. And the rule of law still holds, despite these conditions, which I appreciate. And I have also learned that there are many places which require a...certain kind of attention, around here. Places that Master Squallborn would enjoy exploring, is that not so?" the Paladin asked with a kind of coy innocence.
Rhydd Maldhon
Fighter, 442 posts
AC:15; HP:42/42; Init:+3
PPer:14; PIns:12; PInv:10
Tue 10 May 2022
at 15:20
  • msg #187

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

"I've learned that the walls have not become any less confining than they were the last time I was here, nor the town itself any less annoying," Rhydd replied, dryly, to Lady Mallory's inquiry.
Mallory Bonheur
Wizard, 810 posts
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Tue 10 May 2022
at 19:19
  • msg #188

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

"Shall I teach you the dome spell I conjured earlier, so that you might sleep outside without fear of freezing to death or being set upon by wild beasts in the night?" While Mallory's sidelong grin sent Rhydd's way spoke of jest, part of her mused that he actually might enjoy that...

"The religious practices of this community are...questionable at best. The dead do not rest easy here."

That furrowed the young noble's brow with enough consideration to make her actually pause mid-drink.  "You know, I do recall--" she began, only to cut herself off to actually take a drink before she continued "--hearing that the local church has stopped taking in the homeless.  They're posted up in Town Hall overnight now and some were even quite ill.  I thought that terribly amiss.  Why would the local worship turn away the needy or allow sickness to linger?"
Khulekani Kumalo
Paladin, 97 posts
Radiant Heart Auxiliary
"Courage can be a light."
Tue 10 May 2022
at 20:43
  • msg #189

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

"I fear that in these trying times that charity is one of the first casualties. Tightened belts, tightened purse-strings, and locked doors against cries for aid. These people didn't have much in the way of excessive wealth to begin with, and even churches have their limits. When they aren't considering allowing sacrifices that is," Khulekani said, her voice going flinty in reference to the horror that she hadn't been privy too, but had since investigated.
Rhydd Maldhon
Fighter, 443 posts
AC:15; HP:42/42; Init:+3
PPer:14; PIns:12; PInv:10
Tue 10 May 2022
at 23:39
  • msg #190

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

Rhydd smiled at Lady Mallory's offer to teach magicks to the likes of him. His expression turned grim, however, when the discussion turned to the powers that be in the town refusing to aid the homeless.

"Short-sightedness on their part," he grunted. "Be much easier to round up potential sacrifices when they are gathered together in one easy-to-find spot."
Mallory Bonheur
Wizard, 812 posts
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Wed 11 May 2022
at 00:04
  • msg #191

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

"Bryn Shander's sacrifices have been food, not people, from what I've been told.  Targos was - presumably - only performing those ghastly hanging lotteries because of their food shortage yielding no surplus to sacrifice with."  A matter they'd hopefully resolved by sending Streamseeker off to literally fairer waters.  Though there was still the chance that the baleful Druid behind the whole affair in the first place could've still been ready to cause further trouble...

"Squire Kumalo, Farwalker?  Please do correct me if I'm wrong, as my forte is in the arcane more so than the realm of the divine.  But I was under the impression that some who are divinely attuned are able to purge disease with a touch." she mulled as she rested the rim of her cup against her chin thoughtfully.  "When I was a child, I never got so much as a sore throat without someone from the local branch of Ilmater's clergy coming to lay hands to prevent the spread of illness.  Perhaps the clergy here are merely caretakers of the temple and not divinely-imbued clerics?"
Just to avoid any possible confusion, Mallory is referring to things like "Lesser Restoration" or a Paladin's "Lay on Hands" ability.  Readily available to people with PC levels, not so much with Commoners.
Khulekani Kumalo
Paladin, 98 posts
Radiant Heart Auxiliary
"Courage can be a light."
Fri 13 May 2022
at 00:55
  • msg #192

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

"As I understand it, there are those who follow the tenants and teachings of the gods, and guide others to do so. And then there are those whom the gods answer their prayers directly. And while the two groups often overlap, there is no guarantee a member of the clergy can direct the powers of their deity. Now, some think this means churches should be built around those gifted with such displays of faith, for it is tangible proof of the god's approval. I disagree. I think the gods have plans for all of us, and all have their parts to play. The kindly words born of long study of holy texts can have more effect on a community than the grandest display of divine fury. At least, that is what I have always believed. There were many years where I was a member of the Triad worshiper before my faith began to manifest in divine intervention, and I don't think my faith is any stronger now than it was when I was fourteen," Khulekani, answering the question and musing on some tangentially related thoughts at the same time.
Mallory Bonheur
Wizard, 813 posts
Today's Lucky Numbers
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Fri 13 May 2022
at 07:10
  • msg #193

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

"Hmn... well, I do suppose that is a fundamental flaw in relying on an extraplanar being for one's power.  Not as though I have much room to talk; any day now Mystra is going to die again and we'll all be in the shit." Mallory muttered into her dirnk.  While not dismissive of the gods - indeed, being a worshiper of Tymora herself - she did seem to bear a far less reverent interpretation of their role in the grand scheme of things.

"Mmmrrowl." Astre flicked his ears as he chimed in, which just got an eye roll out of his companion.

"Look, I'm not complaining about The Weave.  It's certainly more comfortable than channeling Raw Magic, which is an utter pain in the-- ugh, that's not the point." Mallory griped right back at her cat.

"Rrrm."

"All I'm saying is that whoever conceived of load-bearing deities had a lot of nerve, alright?"

On that, Mallory focused her brief bit of annoyance into the more productive - in a manner of speaking - task of refilling her drink yet again.  Astre, meanwhile, set his luminous eyes over to Khulekani.  Despite having yowled ferociously at her in their first meeting, he didn't seem to hold a grudge at all and was perfectly fine in her company as he chirped her way.

"Rrrm.  Mmrrllm?" the Tressym intoned.  Mallory's gaze followed his to the Squire as the both of them appeared to wait for an answer, until Mallory herself twigged on after a beat.  "Oh, right.  He's asked if you can cure illnesses with your divinity, Squire."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:17, Fri 13 May 2022.
Khulekani Kumalo
Paladin, 99 posts
Radiant Heart Auxiliary
"Courage can be a light."
Fri 13 May 2022
at 11:46
  • msg #194

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

"All things are possible with the guidance of the Triad...But, well, I must admit I've never tried before. Normally I've used Ilmater's mercy on those in my travels who have called for my help, or I was there when they were injured. Broken legs from falling off horses, lacerations from a Goblin raid. That kind of thing. But...yes, I believe the Triad would wish to see illness eradicated through their servants," Khulekani said with a hesitant shrug.

For all her normal calm, friendly, self-assurance, it was easy to forget that this young woman was fresh from the training fields of the Auxiliary. This Errantry Tour was to test all the things that she had learned in the real world.
Mallory Bonheur
Wizard, 814 posts
Today's Lucky Numbers
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Sat 14 May 2022
at 09:35
  • msg #195

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

Much like how Mallory herself had balked and scoffed over Markham's clumsiness in understanding the arcane forces she bore, so too was the young noble just as unwittingly foolish when it came to the divine.  Those associated with organized religious forces had a certain air and reputation about them that made it all too easy to expect more of them than was perhaps fair.  Of course, such questions coming from an irreverent feline and a woman quite deep in her cups could somewhat excuse the candor...

"I daresay you'll find a few folk around town worthy of testing your abilities then, were you so inclined to try.  There was one fellow in particular we saw earlier... he was very stubborn about accepting the charity of a warm blanket and cold coin; he seemed to have a sickness of the lungs." Mallory couldn't recall having seen the man earlier at Town Hall after their first encounter, but that she did remember someone else coughing as well spoke poorly of the general well-being of Bryn Shander.  "If nothing else, I'm sure Speaker Duvessa would appreciate a potential contagious disease being prevented from spreading throughout the citizenry."

She scowled a bit at her own reflection in the contents of her mug.  "I'm afraid I may have put the Speaker off.  She's very much against my business dealings with Speaker Naerth of Targos and, unfortunately, she's labeled you lot as guilty by association as well." It was all she could do in just offering an apologetic shrug to her gathered company.  "I'm sorry if I end up causing any of you trouble.  Especially you, Squire.  For what it's worth, I'll be doubling my efforts to earn what trust I can."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 09:37, Sat 14 May 2022.
Torgrim Squallborn
Rogue, 147 posts
AC:14 HP:31/31 Init: +3
PPer:11; PIns:13; PInv:11
Sun 15 May 2022
at 12:00
  • msg #196

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

As the quiet of night settled in over Geldenstag's Rest, Torgrim remained awake. Though his eyes were set on the hard wooden roof, his mind was entirely elsewhere, fixated on ghosts. For once not literal ones, but figurative ghosts of his past. The words of the lanky Nothlook drunkard echoed in his mind:

"that Wizard I spoke of was after it, and he didn't seem like to type to bother himself with trifles. The Geese too, I've heard. This thing is big. A few miles eastward."

After a few waking hours, Torgrim made a decision. He got out his notebook and wrote down a few words before gently tearing the page from the binding.

"Terribly sorry about leaving like this. Never been good with goodbyes. You work well together, take care of one another. -Torgrim"

He thought for a moment before adding: "Ps. If you come across a halfling called Apple at the tower, tell her she was right about the Firebrandy, and Quill owes her a gold." He left the note on a table, held down by a stack of coins, enough to cover the cost of the room and his likely long forgotten bet.

The half-elf stopped in the door to take one last solemn glance back over his shoulder before slipping out and away into the cold winter night.

OOC: Stealth: Torgrim Squallborn rolled 21 using 1d20+9
Mallory Bonheur
Wizard, 817 posts
Today's Lucky Numbers
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Sun 15 May 2022
at 19:28
  • msg #197

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

As was often the case, long into the night when all else had fallen silent and asleep in their chambers, Astre remained.  The Tressym was tucked amid the rafters of the main room to enjoy what lingering warmth was caught up there and maintain his vigil.  Once before he'd seen a strange man leave their company with only a note to mark the exit and, so too that evening, did history repeat itself.  Astre only moved once the door shut in Torgrim's wake; he fluttered down to a near window and peered out into the bluster of the deep night's snow, but there was no sign to be found of the strange fellow.  By morning his tracks and scent would've surely been swept away as well...

True to himself as ever, Astre let his inquisitive nature lead the way as he bounded over to the tabletop note.  Sharp eyes narrowed as he read it and, with the nearest measure a feline could offer to a sigh, tucked to curl himself in rest about the coins and note alike to keep them safeguarded amid his fluff and feathers.  There he would remain until morning to ensure nobody but his companions would find them first.
Rhydd Maldhon
Fighter, 446 posts
AC:15; HP:42/42; Init:+3
PPer:14; PIns:12; PInv:10
Mon 16 May 2022
at 16:06
  • msg #198

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

Given that Rhydd often slept out-of-doors in the Wilds, anything with a roof and smoldering wood in the fireplace felt like he was spoiling himself. And so it was that after his companions had turned in for the night, he spread his bedroll on the floor of the common room and used his pack as a pillow.

He was perfectly comfortable in such surroundings, and it also gave him the opportunity to keep an eye on the door to the inn. Not that he actively stood Watch, but he figured that he was more likely to notice comings and goings in the dead of night than if he were upstairs, behind the closed door of his own room.

It seemed, however, that Torgrim was much more adept at keeping his exit quiet than the normal, run-of-the-mill townsperson, and Rhydd never heard him leave.

If he heard Astre stirring, he thought nothing of it . . .


OOC:
11:53, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 13 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 9.  Perception Check (To Notice Torgrim Leaving).

Comments: Rhydd would not have heard Torgrim's departure (19 on his Stealth Check).

This message was last edited by the player at 17:21, Mon 16 May 2022.
DM Bears
GM, 1113 posts
Tue 17 May 2022
at 20:37
  • msg #199

Re: Chapter 1: Winter Everlasting - Part 2: Bryn Shander

Throughout the evening, before everyone retreated to their rooms, Moyrah sat over her drink in contemplation. As with many of the others, something was clearly weighing on her, though when prodded she would brush it off as a long days' weariness. Perhaps some had realized that she had intended to leave that very night. Moyrah had not made up her mind yet — while she considered her quest important, there was something of value here, in this inn, that she was reluctant to part with.

And so it came to be that it was not she who left, but another.

With footsteps silent enough to barely grab Astre's attention, Torgrim was gone. The Tressym was not the only one privy to his exit, for in the door frame the Fisherman manifested. He took on a full shape, proud and tall, his beard undulating with the wisps of his makeup. The sleeves of his tunic, slightly wet from Ethereal rain and splashes, were rolled up, revealing immaculate tattoos.

"Thank you," his voice clang, and a strong, ghostly hand faced Torgrim, "for allowing me this closure." Of course, no physical contact could take place, but that did not stop the Fisherman from pantomiming the handshake, another phantom hand wrapping itself atop. He smiled sincerely of gratitude. And then, with the cold winter night awaiting him, no more words were exchanged. The Fisherman dispersed in Torgrim's grasp, now on his way to the Fugue Plane. To the spirit the journey would seem instantaneous, but he would not arrive before two or three months had passed on the Prime Material. From there, he would enter the realm of the deity to whom he had been faithful.

Though with one soul shepherded, another still awaited. The Cobbler would go on to haunt Torgrim for a long, long time.
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