Slayers of the Take

On By ravonlockeIn Journal, Netherdeep1 Comment

There was a lot of them today. Never seen so many Empire folk in one day! Three gnomes and a raggedy boy. Well, two gnomes, I suppose. One of them was made of metal, so maybe that doesn’t count so much. That Shak’Nul looks like trouble, didn’t want to give up his bow. Mother Sakgu said he performed well in battle, though. Hafta keep an eye on him.

Speaking of eyes, Kai’Osh is here. Youngest son of the Mirimm Umavi, and arrogant as the day is bright. He better not go blabbing our secrets. He did run his mouth and offer his services to the entire lunch crowd. Plays a nice drum, though. Maybe he’ll get along alright. Sevonius will hear from me if he doesn’t.

The boy, Jonas, not so young, I guess, but timid. He’s strange, even for a Zemnian. Left his whole pack in the weapons box – rope, bedroll, and waterskin! Maybe he’s just that dangerous? Mother did say he cut a Core Spawn Crawler right in half with that big sword of his.

At least Reebo sent me a decent hunter. Urzutha looks like she can handle herself. Sounds like she’s quite deadly with that crossbow of hers, too! Quiet, but steady. Nice dog. He didn’t mess anywhere in my Take.

Those gnomes, though, and whatever that metal one is. The blue-haired girl makes toys! What good is that going to do? Mother says she ran right into trouble, too, without a care for caution. The little green one… who knew that gnomes were green? At least he sounds competent, or willing to kill. He’s a bit creepy, though. The metal one’s a preacher, could be a problem if he asks the wrong person about their faith.

Whatever they all are, they killed up some Core Spawn and carved ’em up clean. Osysa approved and they all made it back branded. We’ll see how long they stick around.

~Huntsmaster Rajot

A New Adventure

On By ravonlockeIn General Nonsense, NetherdeepLeave a comment

This is my first time running a D&D game, so I’ll start with my Campaign Introduction:

The Campaign: Monsters swim the seas. Mines are swarmed from below. Even far off Xhorhas is plagued by outsiders from Blightshore. The Betrayer Gods are restless in their exile, and trouble stirs across Exandria. The Heroes of the recent past may have staved off world-ending destruction, but the tremors of their battles may have woken more dangerous beings, who reach out to hero and villain alike. 

The World: In the twenty years since a treaty was signed on the Lucidian Ocean, the peace between the Empire and the Dynasty persists, albeit only on the surface. In the wake of this now hidden turmoil across Wildemount, with strange elemental rumors out of Tal’Dorei, and ever increasing threats to civilized lands everywhere, the Slayers’ Take, a guild of monster hunters and harvesters for hire, has expanded from Vasselheim to all across Exandria. Small Chapter Houses have cropped up in Westruun (Tal’Dorei), Port Damali (Menagerie Coast), Hupperdook (Dwendalian Empire), Ank’Harel (Marquet), and even a small, secretive chapter in Asarius (Xhorhas). Adventurers from all over flock to the Take to prove their mettle and make a living. 

The Party: The troubles of the wider world will come soon enough, today you are all hopeful Adventurers, come join to the Asarius branch of the Slayers’ Take. Together, or individually, you all happened to arrive on this day to start your journey, and for good, or ill, to make a name for yourselves, and hopefully, a little coin. Some have been sent to investigate the rumors of trouble, others simply came seeking adventure, fortune, and fame. Others may be seeking missing friends, or be looking for payback against monsters or beasts who attacked their homes or villages. Whatever the case, today you take the first step on your new journey.

Grand Finale

On By ravonlockeIn Journal, QuillLeave a comment

That was so chaotic and amazing and boring. I only got to hit one person before X put me out of commission. He was a really nice beholder but he lifted me up against the wall and held me there. I think he was trying to help because he kept shooting beams at me. But he didn’t hurt me or anything. It only hurt when I fell, which was weird. Then I got to go shoot the mage lady with a lightning bolt, and Big J then killed X. The others had put down a few of his friends, but Red convinced the others, including Brikka to join our new crew. The Blackstaff wasn’t happy with Red’s plan to install Big J down here, but said she’d talk to the Lady Lord about it.

Job done. Success and we have a treasure to rescue for the city. First, though, Red and I need to have a talk. Spy Master wouldn’t want me to, but this is important. I like what we’re building down here, and we have to fix things. Red says he’s sorry and it was for my own good, and for the flock. He says it was important and he still trusts me, and wants me to join him fully down here. It sounds way more fun than just spying, maybe I can do both.

We get to rest for a few days, then The Lady Lord and The Blackstaff invite us to a conversation. They give us the stone, and Nevi gets another voice in his head. It tells us what we need and where to go. Need a scale of our bronze dragon friend, need the fae queen to gift us Mary for a night, and need someone to be invisible. Seems easy. Blackstaff will even go with us.

We get down into the tomb in the City of the Dead. Lots of big doors down here, most of them don’t lead anywhere. Oooh! A pretty mural! It’s so pretty. Why do they want to break it? No! Oh, okay. Bad mural, still pretty though. Stairs up, make some noise, tell a secret, and stairs back down. Bunch of bridges and statues and oozes. This is such a strange place.

Then we find the dragon, but it’s a dwarf. Dwarf dragon made a deal with the old Lord, doesn’t want to break it. Everyone talks morality with him while I just wait for the fight to start. I didn’t get to hit X or Red, I really want to hit this dragon dwarf. Eventually, though, Blackstaff makes a deal with him for food and materials in exchange for the gold.

It takes a couple days, but we get it all out and set things in motion. Red, Orange, and I get Skullport all cleaned up and moving again. We even get to start a legit adventurers guild. We need to figure out how to stop X from coming back, because I guess that’s a thing. Red says we’re going to start stealing from other planes soon, too. That sounds like lots of fun. Spy Master is sad he didn’t get to help with X, but he’s glad he’s gone and the money is back.

The Winding Hawks are heroes, and family, forever.

So Far, So Good

On By ravonlockeIn Journal, QuillLeave a comment

Meeting with the Flintforge Gant went well. Got him to agree. Gave him so much money and the rod. Hope they don’t all get killed. Red seems to like them. Orange is going to be mad he’s missing the fights this year. Maybe Red can host some for him sometime soon instead.

The day arrived. Everyone had been rushing around for two weeks, and now stillness. Gods’ Day. Time to go to the carnival.

Jarlaxle’s tent is in the back, but the whole place is so busy and full of people. Watching us, following us. We stick out way too much. Slip inside the Big Top. Pull the shadows close. Tap the Big Guy and Nevi out of existence. Have to be quiet. We make it through at to His tent. Red says it’s not real, and we’ll pop out in a mansion or some such.

It’s not. Not a mansion, or a building. The doorway leads to a beach! With a bar and people playing with a weird white ball. Big J is lying with a couple people having drinks. He gets up quick when he sees us, though.

Big fight ensues. He stabs me right through the back! His friends aren’t as good at hitting me though, thankfully. Red and I chase him to the door, and Red puts him down and steals the stone. We hightail it out of there right quick after that. Red takes off and the rest of us get home.

Page lets the Blackstaff know we did it, and she shows up with all her friends. I let Big J know we’re gathering and when we plan to head down. He shows up with his friends right before Red calls us down. Blackstaff doesn’t have time to argue, fortunately, and we all teleport into X’s big aquarium room.

String Quartet

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The mandolin, viola, and cello acquired. Page says the last piece is a bass. So, she runs off to talk to all her harp people and the bard college. When she returns, she says we have to go to Baldur’s Gate. Oh, oh no. She needs to find someone there, who might have it. I might still know people, but most of them don’t like me. I don’t want to go, but I can’t let her wander around there without me. She pulls up the genie, and we all head there together. At least it’s a city so Red won’t complain too much.

When we get there, most of them head off to drink and soak, but Nevi, Page and I go to the High Hall to look into collectors in town. She has four names which we narrow down to Francisco Fissel, a giant merchant on the far side of town. We gather up to sleep for the night, no use scouting unknown territory this late at night when we’d have to pass through the gates.

Page gets up early in the morning, and I follow her out. I may not be welcome here, but she can’t go alone. It’s not safe here. We head out through the gate and around to the far side of the mountain. He’s got a big, three-story shop here: Francisco’s Fineries. We check out the building, look for sewers nearby, and Page stares hard at the gargoyle up on top of it. We almost leave, but then head inside.

The first floor is full of shiny things of all varieties. They don’t look terribly fine, but they are really fun. I pick up a few trick coins as Page engages with one of the clerks. He seems happy to show us around, so we head upstairs. There are clothes here from all over the realms, beautiful things. I look around while she talks with him some more. Then we head to the top floor. Here, the room is filled with all manner of weapons and armor and instruments. The one she wants isn’t here, though. There is a door up here, into the mountain, but it is well-locked. So, we head back to the group.

Red is very concerned about breaking in there and not finding the thing we’re after. He’s also worried that if we do anything to confirm it is there, and then steal it, that we’re more likely to get caught. So, surprising everyone, he suggested we go and ask to make a trade for it. We went, but the owner wasn’t around and the clerk said to come back in the evening. So, another spa day for us.

Back that evening, it was a strange meeting. Red, well, tried to be Red. Usually that works, but Francisco was only interested in Page. Makes her admit we have the rest of the instruments. He says the bass is a family heirloom, that his ancestor stood against the hordes attacking a small village. He won’t give it up. The talk about a prophecy then, about bringing all four together to play. He is interested in doing that, so Page invites him to Waterdeep for a performance, and he agrees.

We head home immediately, and set up a concert for the very next day. Page invites the other musicians she wants to play with and we provide security while they practice. That night is the most beautiful music I have ever heard in my short life. It was so amazing. Even Page was a bit dazed afterwards, as we headed home, with only her cello in hand.