Reflections: Heroes in the Making
Oct 25, 2016 15:00:58 GMT -5
hungrycrow, DM Disaster, and 1 more like this
Post by chilango on Oct 25, 2016 15:00:58 GMT -5
Adventure Beckons - Answer the Call
By Seattle Grunge
Fleeing Waterdeep I made my way to Daggerford, a town that lay along the Delimbiyr River, also known as the Shining River, on the Sword Coast. There I was able to secure passage by ship that took me to the sleepy village of Orlbar at the junction of the Loagrann and Greyflow rivers.
You see, Waterdeep was no longer safe for Seattle Grunge, yours truly, to walk its streets. It seems a prosperous merchant from the North Ward took offense to my advancements and wooing of his only daughter and was outraged, thereby ordering my execution. To my misfortune, he hired bounty hunters forcing me to flee the City of Splendors for my very life.
Keeping a low profile and paying handsomely for that privilege, the journey to Orlbar went about without a hitch. Disembarking as evening was setting in, I found myself walking down a dusty street toward a fire I saw burning a little ways ahead.
As I approached closer I saw some others gathered around what looked to be a cook-pot, sitting on logs and chatting. I approached and politely asked if I may also sit and enjoy the warmth of the fire. It wasn't long before others also began to meander toward the cook-pot, I suppose the smell of food wafting through the night air enticed them to gravitate in that direction.
Shortly, a man also made his way to the fire and asked if those that were present were there to 'answer the call.' He introduced himself saying that he was Kriero Amraphensbane, Orlbar's General Merchant, and was acting on behalf of some unknown person or persons, who sought adventurers to complete a task.
Without elaborating or going into details he announced that those of us interested were to assemble at his place of business the Thousand Heads Trading Coster. Intrigued, I found myself joined by Hraghik, son of Gort, a barbarian of the Ghost Tree clan, Arok Hagismore, a Gold Dwarf, Estela, an elven lass of the High Forest, Eowaralad, who and from where I have forgotten, and last but not least, a raving beauty primped in red who introduced herself as Fiara Firemantle, Wizardess.
All seemed curious to what might entail and a chorus of banter erupted from all gathered, to the dismay of Kriero, who constantly shook his head and muttered expletives in a not so whispered breath. Even the barbarian seemed aggravated at times, bellowing and banging the butt of his massive spear upon the floor. But eventually all seem to settle down long enough for Kriero to enter the names of those assembled into a ledger.
He proceeded by informing the gathering that before he would divulge the true nature of the illusive quest that we would first have to prove are worth by completing a simple trial. That task entailed the group embarking into the wilderness to a goblin lair said to be North of the Burnt Out farm, a reference known to the locals, and then from there North again.
So, with little to no fanfare, we, the cluster of individuals, as we had no official name, set forth into the unknown. As we travelled the road some scoffed at Kriero's pretense that we needed to establish our ability and courageousness. The barbarian and dwarf both banged their chests braying for all to hear that they were already mighty and saw little purpose in proving such.
It wasn't long before we stood at the mouth of the goblin lair having met little opposition on our journey. One thing could be said for our little band, that we were indeed skilled individuals as attested by the bodies of fallen goblins left in our wake. Arok Hagismore entered the cave first and finally gave the signal that it was clear for all to follow.
Inside it was dark until our eyes were able to adjust, torches were mounted along the walls for illumination. We followed a tunnel which broke off to the right, where Eowaralad informed us of a trap that lay upon the ground. Inside the room goblins gave us little resistance and so we continued back out and along the tunnel. As we advanced we came upon a cavern that had a gated wall from which goblins burst forth accompanied by their fighting dogs. We dispatched the threat and more goblins and their dogs lay dead before us. It was then that Hraghik, son of Gort, skinned one of the dogs for later consumption, or so he implied. Estela, the elven lass, seemed quite taken aback by this and denounced such barbarity, which only fell on Hraghik's deaf ears, he WAS a barbarian after all! I think, but am uncertain, the dwarf may have chimed in that dog was good to eat as well?
We advanced with caution not knowing what to expect. The lair was a maze of tunnels branching left and right from one cavern to another. We explored to our right first before moving further along following the tunnels left. Soon we came upon a wide-open expanse of a cavern, from which many goblin erupted. Hraghik, son of Gort, Arok, the Gold dwarf, and Eowaralad drew a line and began to dispatch the goblins that advanced. Estela, Fiara Firemantle and myself supported the front line with bow, crossbow and darts hurled into the streaming foes. When all was done we stood panting and bloodied but all were alive while a host of goblins lay dead or dying.
Arok found the slain body of the goblin-chief we sought and promptly chopped of it's head holding it aloft! Proof, he chuckled, that we were indeed worthy, as if we really needed such confirmation. After the head was placed in a bag, we broke off and searched about seeking gold and treasure, rightfully ours I might add, after we all fought bravely.
To the victors go the spoils!
Beside a throne-chair on either side lay two strongboxes, both locked and one trapped, if I recall correctly? What we could do for someone versed in traps and locks! Arok and Hraghik barked nonsense as they both used their hardy axes to smash open the strongboxes with ease.
Another cavern lay before us but it was shuttered by two iron gates, trapped and locked as we discovered. Again, it entered my mind, "What we could do for someone versed in traps and locks!" surely such a person would only enhance this group I mused.
This time a group effort pounded upon the shuttered gates until they were shattered from their hinges. We entered what appeared to be a storage room and were attacked by guard dogs that we easily dispatched. In the darkness, I am uncertain if I saw both Hraghik and Arok licking their lips at the thought of more food?
When we collected what was of value we made our way back out of the lair and proceed back to Orlbar with little in the way of any challenges.
At the Thousand Heads Trading Coster, we presented Kriero with the head of the goblin-chief, to his dismay I might add for he assumed that not all would return.
It was then that he informed us that we would need to return in a fortnight to hear the details of the real quest. While some were a little disappointed at this news, all agreed to meet back here again after the allotted time had passed. In the meantime the group divvied up what was collected and reveled in the knowledge that as a group we were INDEED worthy of the next adventure …..
….. To Be Continued ...
By Seattle Grunge
Fleeing Waterdeep I made my way to Daggerford, a town that lay along the Delimbiyr River, also known as the Shining River, on the Sword Coast. There I was able to secure passage by ship that took me to the sleepy village of Orlbar at the junction of the Loagrann and Greyflow rivers.
You see, Waterdeep was no longer safe for Seattle Grunge, yours truly, to walk its streets. It seems a prosperous merchant from the North Ward took offense to my advancements and wooing of his only daughter and was outraged, thereby ordering my execution. To my misfortune, he hired bounty hunters forcing me to flee the City of Splendors for my very life.
Keeping a low profile and paying handsomely for that privilege, the journey to Orlbar went about without a hitch. Disembarking as evening was setting in, I found myself walking down a dusty street toward a fire I saw burning a little ways ahead.
As I approached closer I saw some others gathered around what looked to be a cook-pot, sitting on logs and chatting. I approached and politely asked if I may also sit and enjoy the warmth of the fire. It wasn't long before others also began to meander toward the cook-pot, I suppose the smell of food wafting through the night air enticed them to gravitate in that direction.
Shortly, a man also made his way to the fire and asked if those that were present were there to 'answer the call.' He introduced himself saying that he was Kriero Amraphensbane, Orlbar's General Merchant, and was acting on behalf of some unknown person or persons, who sought adventurers to complete a task.
Without elaborating or going into details he announced that those of us interested were to assemble at his place of business the Thousand Heads Trading Coster. Intrigued, I found myself joined by Hraghik, son of Gort, a barbarian of the Ghost Tree clan, Arok Hagismore, a Gold Dwarf, Estela, an elven lass of the High Forest, Eowaralad, who and from where I have forgotten, and last but not least, a raving beauty primped in red who introduced herself as Fiara Firemantle, Wizardess.
All seemed curious to what might entail and a chorus of banter erupted from all gathered, to the dismay of Kriero, who constantly shook his head and muttered expletives in a not so whispered breath. Even the barbarian seemed aggravated at times, bellowing and banging the butt of his massive spear upon the floor. But eventually all seem to settle down long enough for Kriero to enter the names of those assembled into a ledger.
He proceeded by informing the gathering that before he would divulge the true nature of the illusive quest that we would first have to prove are worth by completing a simple trial. That task entailed the group embarking into the wilderness to a goblin lair said to be North of the Burnt Out farm, a reference known to the locals, and then from there North again.
So, with little to no fanfare, we, the cluster of individuals, as we had no official name, set forth into the unknown. As we travelled the road some scoffed at Kriero's pretense that we needed to establish our ability and courageousness. The barbarian and dwarf both banged their chests braying for all to hear that they were already mighty and saw little purpose in proving such.
It wasn't long before we stood at the mouth of the goblin lair having met little opposition on our journey. One thing could be said for our little band, that we were indeed skilled individuals as attested by the bodies of fallen goblins left in our wake. Arok Hagismore entered the cave first and finally gave the signal that it was clear for all to follow.
Inside it was dark until our eyes were able to adjust, torches were mounted along the walls for illumination. We followed a tunnel which broke off to the right, where Eowaralad informed us of a trap that lay upon the ground. Inside the room goblins gave us little resistance and so we continued back out and along the tunnel. As we advanced we came upon a cavern that had a gated wall from which goblins burst forth accompanied by their fighting dogs. We dispatched the threat and more goblins and their dogs lay dead before us. It was then that Hraghik, son of Gort, skinned one of the dogs for later consumption, or so he implied. Estela, the elven lass, seemed quite taken aback by this and denounced such barbarity, which only fell on Hraghik's deaf ears, he WAS a barbarian after all! I think, but am uncertain, the dwarf may have chimed in that dog was good to eat as well?
We advanced with caution not knowing what to expect. The lair was a maze of tunnels branching left and right from one cavern to another. We explored to our right first before moving further along following the tunnels left. Soon we came upon a wide-open expanse of a cavern, from which many goblin erupted. Hraghik, son of Gort, Arok, the Gold dwarf, and Eowaralad drew a line and began to dispatch the goblins that advanced. Estela, Fiara Firemantle and myself supported the front line with bow, crossbow and darts hurled into the streaming foes. When all was done we stood panting and bloodied but all were alive while a host of goblins lay dead or dying.
Arok found the slain body of the goblin-chief we sought and promptly chopped of it's head holding it aloft! Proof, he chuckled, that we were indeed worthy, as if we really needed such confirmation. After the head was placed in a bag, we broke off and searched about seeking gold and treasure, rightfully ours I might add, after we all fought bravely.
To the victors go the spoils!
Beside a throne-chair on either side lay two strongboxes, both locked and one trapped, if I recall correctly? What we could do for someone versed in traps and locks! Arok and Hraghik barked nonsense as they both used their hardy axes to smash open the strongboxes with ease.
Another cavern lay before us but it was shuttered by two iron gates, trapped and locked as we discovered. Again, it entered my mind, "What we could do for someone versed in traps and locks!" surely such a person would only enhance this group I mused.
This time a group effort pounded upon the shuttered gates until they were shattered from their hinges. We entered what appeared to be a storage room and were attacked by guard dogs that we easily dispatched. In the darkness, I am uncertain if I saw both Hraghik and Arok licking their lips at the thought of more food?
When we collected what was of value we made our way back out of the lair and proceed back to Orlbar with little in the way of any challenges.
At the Thousand Heads Trading Coster, we presented Kriero with the head of the goblin-chief, to his dismay I might add for he assumed that not all would return.
It was then that he informed us that we would need to return in a fortnight to hear the details of the real quest. While some were a little disappointed at this news, all agreed to meet back here again after the allotted time had passed. In the meantime the group divvied up what was collected and reveled in the knowledge that as a group we were INDEED worthy of the next adventure …..
….. To Be Continued ...
