Sarenith 22, 4712
Waking up from their really bad collective dream, the Coopers find themselves laying in very soft beds in separate rooms at the Juliver Arms. Doliver apologizes profusely for their predicament and mentions that others also suffered the same fate. The Coopers are puzzled. How did they all suffer the same dream, and why? A few questions reveal that all of the individuals around town who were affected had consumed Karlyle the Butcher's freshly made sausage. But why would Karlyle want to poison everyone?
The Coopers are also confused to find Gerald in their mists. Gerald reports that he'd been out from work yesterday and prepared a meal of sausage. Daryle gets angry that there are so many Geralds running around. Omok proposes that they start killing each Gerald they encounter until they stop encountering them. Then at last they will be free from the sorcerer's gaffes. Gerald agrees that he needs an identifying mark to distinguish him from the others so that his family members know that he's the real one. He goes to the blacksmith and gets him to carve a dragon design in his protuding horn. There! A unique design. What could possibly go wrong?
Meanwhile, Omok questions the orb of command "What being planned to put hallucinogenic drugs in our food that made us have a collective dream?" The orb indicates that Master Lobeck, one of the high ranking poisoners in Daggermark, has planned the poisoning operation. Omok is mad that the orb does not tell him why, but the orb only answers one question per day. Roscoe is vaguely familiar with that name. Master is Lobeck's first name, and not an honorific. He is described as bald with a tonsure haircut, and is supposedly the third highest ranking member of the poisoners' guild.
Roscoe reports to the Citadel and talks to the second in command. There are several reports that others in the town have experienced a similar food poisoning, but none of them seem to have experienced as vivid dreams as the Coopers. Seventeen individuals were arrested for disturbing the peace. In all likelihood they suffered from this poisoning. Daryle checks the Hunters' Lodge. Shim Longbranch has nothing to report. They did not eat any of Karlyle's sausage yesterday. Shim mentions that the new recruits' training is going well.
Gathered back at the Juliver Arms, the Coopers decide to postpone their trip to the Emerald Spire and instead investigate the sausage poisoning. The sausage was smoked and freshly made that day. Doliver brings his last sausage. Roscoe detects poison, and it comes back as clearly poisoned. Gerald identifies the sausages and discovers traces of evocation. The sausage is both poisoned and magical. Or is it a magical poison?
Daryle decides she will talk to Karlyle. The butcher is happy to describe his sausage-making process, and shows the Coopers his instruments. Daryle discovers that the spice blend that Karlyle puts together has been altered. Darelle pinpoints angel blue as the suspicious herb that has been added. This herb grows in the depths of the Mwangi jungle. It is used by shamans to inspire dreams and acquire visions, and is considered to have some evocative magical properties. Karlyle mentions that early yesterday morning Jeff, the baker's apprentice, had come by to deliver bread before dawn and he had pointed there was a man on the roof. Karlyle and his apprentices had left the shop for a few minutes and had scanned the roofline, finding nothing. Jeff swore that there had been a man up there. The butcher and his workers scoffed and returned to work. The alteration of the herb mix must have happened then.
The Coopers decide to find Jeff. He's a simpleton who has worked with the baker for over two decades. Darelle questions Jeff about the man on the roof, and Jeff swears there was a man up there yesterday at dawn, but he did not get a good look. The Coopers head back to Karlyle's neighborhood. On the roof they discover traces of footsteps. It last rained three days ago, so the footsteps are recent. Omok investigates the building on the other side of the street, and finds an old deaf woman. Omok removes deafness from the old woman. She had not heard anything. But her granddaughter reports that there were noises on the roof two nights ago. Omok returns to the roof and places a symbol of sleep on the weathervane. He hopes to affect the rogue if he returns in the night.
Daryle goes to tell Dr. Mordel about angel blue Erynna tells her she hasn't seen Mordel. He ate ome of the sausage for lunch yesterday. The ranger decides she will wait until sunset to see if the doctor will stir.
Roscoe returns to the Citadel and visits prisoners. All of them tell a similar story of eating sausages, then experiencing strange and uncomfortable dreams. Roscoe orders the prisoners released, and does not assess fines for their breach of peace. Roscoe then heads back to Karlyle and he orders the butcher to use entirely new spices and "beef" up his security.
At dusk, Dr. Mordel awakens with an incredibly powerful headache. Daryle explains what happened to many of the residents of Fort Inevitable. Mordel reports that he experienced heightened frustrations and angers and loosened inhibitions while under the sway of the sausage. Darelle brings a sample of angel blue to Dr. Mordel for further analysis.
Daryle notifies the rest of the seven and explains what has transpired in town the last two days. They agree to be on the lookout for strange events. The ranger also decides to camp outside the treasury, remembering that one time when someone broke in and stole all of the money under similarly strange circumstances. Omok, for his part, waits on the roof. Their fears are unfounded however, and the night passes quietly.
Sarenith 23, 4712
In the morning, a different Gerald appears in town, trailing strange sand under his boots. Daryle recognizes the sand as being the same one located in the old mine near Shadowborn Manor. This one gets a tiger carved in his horn. Darelle visits Falandra, and discovers that there's a third Gerald working there. Falandra and Darelle discuss the problem, and Falandra remembers reading a tome about what was called the "Cassandra Effect." A wizard had supposedly developed a spell that could summon a mirror image of a living person, with the same memories up to the summoning. This sort of spell could explain the presence of multiple Geralds that seem to appear then disappear at random.
Daryle and Roscoe devise a plan to tell every Gerald they meet to be at the Hunters' Lodge in a week's time at 4pm. When they all show up, they will be captured. Daryle then decide to explore the tunnels and goes to the mine. She discovers that it is still in operation, but there are no Hellknigths present. Further investigation by Roscoe at the Citadel reveal that Thorne had ordered the mine closed a few months back because the supply of iron ore had been depleted. Clearly, it had not been.
The Coopers and Omok go to the mine with 24 Hellknights. The miscreants turn out to be connected with the poisoners' guild, and despite heavy losses the Hellknights under the valiant leadership of Roscoe manage to regain control of the mine. Gerald sheds a tear for the loss of his turtle a year ago in this very spot under less pleasant circumstances.
Showing posts with label Doliver Reedbank. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Doliver Reedbank. Show all posts
Friday, June 23, 2017
Friday, March 24, 2017
Of Hellknights and Gold
Sarenith 13, 471, continued
Roscoe cracks the accounting books of Fort Inevitable, both the real ones and those kept on the side and abandoned by Thorne since his disappearance. In the latter he discovers a letter. It is clearly coded.
He spends a few hours trying to break the code before he realizes that this letter is written in a similar code he used to employ with Thorne when they were both younger, back at the farm in Novensia.
Roscoe is pretty sure that Rose is Thorne, and Demon is Duke Mosley. But who is Lotus? Roscoe wonders aloud about why Mosley's death would create civil war among the Hellknights.
Roscoe continues to peruse the books, and he also discovers the following amounts that are not accounted for, even though there are "receipts" that prove the expenditures:
As if this was not enough, Doliver Reedbank arrives at the Citadel and he hands Roscoe a list of Thorne associates, as promised during their last meeting:
That night, Roscoe, Omok and the sisters are in the Commander's office. Roscoe sends a messenger to the Juliver Gate and requests that Maralictor Wirt report to his office. When she arrives, he asks her about the Duke. She informs him that Mosley is the bastard child of Queen Abrogail II of the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune, ruler of Cheliax, and he has spent his youth at Court. It is rumored that he headed out with a large army to the Worldwound to burnish his military credentials. When asked about the reference to the Hellknights fighting each other, Wirt reports that the situation in Cheliax is tense. Not everyone agrees with the diabolical pacts that have bound Abrogail II's authority over the state. Despite marshaling forces and effort, the Queen has been unable to eliminate all opposition. As the possibility of a civil war increase, Mosley has built a base of supporters throughout all Hellknight orders and clearly plans to take control of the organization and use it. Roscoe questions Wirt which side Mosley would support, and she answers that she's not sure, but he owes allegiance to his mother. The fact that there is doubt, however, means that his support is clearly not unwavering. Daryle asks Wirt where Audara Drovust, the former Lady Commander, fits in this picture.
Wirt replies that Audara also grew up at court, the third daughter of a minor noble at the same time as Mosley. It is believed that Mosley forced himself on her, and she has developed a hatred for the man. Upon her return to Cheliax, she purchased a barony and remained there over the last four months, developing her estate. The discussion then moves to the Hellknights and their Orders and organization. How could Mosley, who is from the Order of the Nail, be able to infiltrate and control the other Orders? Wirt speculates that he has been implementing sleeper agents for at least a decade in the other Orders, ready and awaiting his signals to throw them in complete chaos or even directly eliminate their leadership.
After Wirt departs, the Coopers decide that the financial crisis threatening the Fort must be resolve. They decide to head back to Mosswater and retrieve more money from the treasury in the ghost city.
On her way home, Darelle stops by Dr. Mordel's house. When he comes downstairs to meet her, she asks him if he could investigate her blue powder so that it could be replicated. He tells her he will do his best.
Sarenith 14, 4712
The Coopers head out in the middle of the night on their horse. They arrive mid-morning. Their first order of business is to ensure that the Food to Dye For remains a viable shelter. Their thorough inspection reveals that it indeed is. Roscoe is impressed at the quantity of bones that litter the roads. The Coopers then proceed carefully to the lighthouse. After searching the lighthouse, they find no disturbances that would indicate that someone has been in the building. Climbing to the top, they verify that the light has not been tampered with since the last time they were here. Daryle and Darelle carefully remove a section of the lense, and glance inside. Gold still glitters.
Thus, over the course of the day, Roscoe, Omok and the Coopers manage to retrieve approximately 100,000 crowns. They place the money in old chests found in various houses around the city, then park the wagon in the warehouse behind the restaurant. While working, Roscoe wonders aloud if there was an astrologist or an oracle who might have predicted this disaster. The others do not know. Whatever happened here, Roscoe rhetorically asks.
As the sun begins to drop, Darelle and Daryle return to Food to Dye For with the money. They carefully barricade themselves in the old restaurant. Omok and Roscoe remain in the lighthouse, curious to see what types of creatures come out at night. At sunset, Omok blasts the horn of Ovtik to summon whatever creatures dwell in the water to come to him. The creatures come out of the water, and soon the lighthouse is surrounded by some kind of undead ogres, pushing ahead of them undead orcs. They all try to climb the tower but can't. More fearsome are six-legged beasts that look like undead rhinos. They begin to meander the town, leaving the ogres and orcs behind. Roscoe and Omok debate the wisdom of attacking the undead, and eventually agree that they make great guards for their treasure, and that eliminating or greatly reducing their numbers would be to Coopers' detriment. They decide to wait.
Unfortunately, the monsters' constant wail is grating. Omok, being deaf thanks to the horn of Ovtik, can't hear, but Roscoe begins to suffer under the noise. During the night Omok helps himself to the treasure inside the light.
Sarenith 15, 4712
Just before dawn monsters leave. Roscoe is completely wiped since he couldn't sleep at all during the night. The Coopers reunite in the lighthouse over breakfast. With so many chests, they decide that it would be safer to travel by cloud. Darelle summons her jar of cloud and the Coopers head back to Fort Inevitable. Roscoe deposit the money in the treasury. That should be more than enough to pay upcoming expenses and retire any debt Fort Inevitable accumulated under Thorne's trouble leadership in the treasury.
Darelle brings back a barrel of Mosswater Dye and leaves it at the Hunters' Lodge, planning to study it and extract the recipe to replicate it in the future. Shim informs the Coopers about the progress of the trainees over the last day. He thinks that they should be ready to lead in about a month, though more time training would provide them with better odds of surviving an attack.
Returning to the Fort, Darelle talks to Mordel about what might have triggered so many demons. He doesn't know for sure, but he suspects that an expedition by the Hellknigths about two years ago might have hastened their arrival. He also provides her with a recipe to recreate the blue pegasus. Now all she will need is to gather the ingredients. Thankfully there is a laboratory she can use at the Hunters' Lodge.
Roscoe asks Wirt about the status of Thorne's associates. She replies that there have not been any unusual activities. With the quarterly muster and trials coming up soon, Roscoe decide it's time to round them up. They may be more talkative under arrest, and if nothing else they will provide a good spectacle for the crowd as they are executed. Warrants are issued, and Hellknights are dispatched to seize them.
Sarenith 16, 4712
Roscoe decides it's time to mint new Hellknights. Accompanied by Omok, they head out to the Hunters' Lodge. There, Roscoe leads Omok and three of the trainees down in the mine, where they confront the demon behind the crystal. Omok breaks the barrier after some effort, and in the fight everyone is bloodied but the demon is dispatched, and the hobgoblin and his three companions are immediately officially appointed as Hellknights by the Lord Commander himself.
Taking a look through the gaps in the broken crystal, Darelle sees shadow dimension beyond. How can they prevent other creatures from stepping through? Daryle suggests that they consult Abernard. The sisters trek back to Fort Inevitable and meet with the old man at his house. Abernard welcomes them, and he tells them they just missed their brother Gerald. Darelle inquires as to whether Abernard noticed anything weird or different about Gerald, and reports her beliefs that an impostor is running around. Abernard states that in fact Gerald has not been his whinny self lately, and no calamity has befallen the town.
After hearing the sisters' plea for help in sealing the gap in the crystal, Abernard travels to the Hunters' Lodge and takes care of the problem.
Roscoe cracks the accounting books of Fort Inevitable, both the real ones and those kept on the side and abandoned by Thorne since his disappearance. In the latter he discovers a letter. It is clearly coded.
He spends a few hours trying to break the code before he realizes that this letter is written in a similar code he used to employ with Thorne when they were both younger, back at the farm in Novensia.
Roscoe is pretty sure that Rose is Thorne, and Demon is Duke Mosley. But who is Lotus? Roscoe wonders aloud about why Mosley's death would create civil war among the Hellknights.
Roscoe continues to peruse the books, and he also discovers the following amounts that are not accounted for, even though there are "receipts" that prove the expenditures:
- 34,000 crowns have been paid for bonuses for the out of town workers that helped rebuild Fort Inevitable.
- 47,000 crowns have been paid for various repairs to the town wall and other Hellknight structures around Fort Inevitable, but upon investigation only minor work was performed, and certainly nowhere near the price the Hellknights paid.
- Finally, there are 120,000 crowns that have been paid in miscellaneous expenses, including 13,000 listed as incentive pay for Roscoe. Roscoe never received any of this money.
As if this was not enough, Doliver Reedbank arrives at the Citadel and he hands Roscoe a list of Thorne associates, as promised during their last meeting:
- Roger Silverfish, employee of Drurn's Tannery, who helped Thorne hoard and move food during the famine.
- Nolan Crueleye, Nethan Scarletlance, and Ivan Browndog, mercenaries from the Salamander Company provides muscle.
- Daman Blackelk, who ran the racketeering racket in the tent city during the winter.
- Selif Redlyon, who works at the Poldmar stables and who is responsible for smuggling merchandise in and out of Fort Inevitable through horse equipment.
- Ossian, who sold water from his private well at inflated prices.
- Dwayne Saucyeye, who works at the Ironworks, melted precious metals into mundane items so it could be smuggled out.
- Regan Redeve, who works for the stonemason Zoldor Maril, has built various structures throughout the area, and indicates 3 specific locations.
That night, Roscoe, Omok and the sisters are in the Commander's office. Roscoe sends a messenger to the Juliver Gate and requests that Maralictor Wirt report to his office. When she arrives, he asks her about the Duke. She informs him that Mosley is the bastard child of Queen Abrogail II of the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune, ruler of Cheliax, and he has spent his youth at Court. It is rumored that he headed out with a large army to the Worldwound to burnish his military credentials. When asked about the reference to the Hellknights fighting each other, Wirt reports that the situation in Cheliax is tense. Not everyone agrees with the diabolical pacts that have bound Abrogail II's authority over the state. Despite marshaling forces and effort, the Queen has been unable to eliminate all opposition. As the possibility of a civil war increase, Mosley has built a base of supporters throughout all Hellknight orders and clearly plans to take control of the organization and use it. Roscoe questions Wirt which side Mosley would support, and she answers that she's not sure, but he owes allegiance to his mother. The fact that there is doubt, however, means that his support is clearly not unwavering. Daryle asks Wirt where Audara Drovust, the former Lady Commander, fits in this picture.
Wirt replies that Audara also grew up at court, the third daughter of a minor noble at the same time as Mosley. It is believed that Mosley forced himself on her, and she has developed a hatred for the man. Upon her return to Cheliax, she purchased a barony and remained there over the last four months, developing her estate. The discussion then moves to the Hellknights and their Orders and organization. How could Mosley, who is from the Order of the Nail, be able to infiltrate and control the other Orders? Wirt speculates that he has been implementing sleeper agents for at least a decade in the other Orders, ready and awaiting his signals to throw them in complete chaos or even directly eliminate their leadership.
After Wirt departs, the Coopers decide that the financial crisis threatening the Fort must be resolve. They decide to head back to Mosswater and retrieve more money from the treasury in the ghost city.
On her way home, Darelle stops by Dr. Mordel's house. When he comes downstairs to meet her, she asks him if he could investigate her blue powder so that it could be replicated. He tells her he will do his best.
Sarenith 14, 4712
The Coopers head out in the middle of the night on their horse. They arrive mid-morning. Their first order of business is to ensure that the Food to Dye For remains a viable shelter. Their thorough inspection reveals that it indeed is. Roscoe is impressed at the quantity of bones that litter the roads. The Coopers then proceed carefully to the lighthouse. After searching the lighthouse, they find no disturbances that would indicate that someone has been in the building. Climbing to the top, they verify that the light has not been tampered with since the last time they were here. Daryle and Darelle carefully remove a section of the lense, and glance inside. Gold still glitters.
Thus, over the course of the day, Roscoe, Omok and the Coopers manage to retrieve approximately 100,000 crowns. They place the money in old chests found in various houses around the city, then park the wagon in the warehouse behind the restaurant. While working, Roscoe wonders aloud if there was an astrologist or an oracle who might have predicted this disaster. The others do not know. Whatever happened here, Roscoe rhetorically asks.
As the sun begins to drop, Darelle and Daryle return to Food to Dye For with the money. They carefully barricade themselves in the old restaurant. Omok and Roscoe remain in the lighthouse, curious to see what types of creatures come out at night. At sunset, Omok blasts the horn of Ovtik to summon whatever creatures dwell in the water to come to him. The creatures come out of the water, and soon the lighthouse is surrounded by some kind of undead ogres, pushing ahead of them undead orcs. They all try to climb the tower but can't. More fearsome are six-legged beasts that look like undead rhinos. They begin to meander the town, leaving the ogres and orcs behind. Roscoe and Omok debate the wisdom of attacking the undead, and eventually agree that they make great guards for their treasure, and that eliminating or greatly reducing their numbers would be to Coopers' detriment. They decide to wait.
Unfortunately, the monsters' constant wail is grating. Omok, being deaf thanks to the horn of Ovtik, can't hear, but Roscoe begins to suffer under the noise. During the night Omok helps himself to the treasure inside the light.
Sarenith 15, 4712
Just before dawn monsters leave. Roscoe is completely wiped since he couldn't sleep at all during the night. The Coopers reunite in the lighthouse over breakfast. With so many chests, they decide that it would be safer to travel by cloud. Darelle summons her jar of cloud and the Coopers head back to Fort Inevitable. Roscoe deposit the money in the treasury. That should be more than enough to pay upcoming expenses and retire any debt Fort Inevitable accumulated under Thorne's trouble leadership in the treasury.
Darelle brings back a barrel of Mosswater Dye and leaves it at the Hunters' Lodge, planning to study it and extract the recipe to replicate it in the future. Shim informs the Coopers about the progress of the trainees over the last day. He thinks that they should be ready to lead in about a month, though more time training would provide them with better odds of surviving an attack.
Returning to the Fort, Darelle talks to Mordel about what might have triggered so many demons. He doesn't know for sure, but he suspects that an expedition by the Hellknigths about two years ago might have hastened their arrival. He also provides her with a recipe to recreate the blue pegasus. Now all she will need is to gather the ingredients. Thankfully there is a laboratory she can use at the Hunters' Lodge.
Roscoe asks Wirt about the status of Thorne's associates. She replies that there have not been any unusual activities. With the quarterly muster and trials coming up soon, Roscoe decide it's time to round them up. They may be more talkative under arrest, and if nothing else they will provide a good spectacle for the crowd as they are executed. Warrants are issued, and Hellknights are dispatched to seize them.
Sarenith 16, 4712
Roscoe decides it's time to mint new Hellknights. Accompanied by Omok, they head out to the Hunters' Lodge. There, Roscoe leads Omok and three of the trainees down in the mine, where they confront the demon behind the crystal. Omok breaks the barrier after some effort, and in the fight everyone is bloodied but the demon is dispatched, and the hobgoblin and his three companions are immediately officially appointed as Hellknights by the Lord Commander himself.
Taking a look through the gaps in the broken crystal, Darelle sees shadow dimension beyond. How can they prevent other creatures from stepping through? Daryle suggests that they consult Abernard. The sisters trek back to Fort Inevitable and meet with the old man at his house. Abernard welcomes them, and he tells them they just missed their brother Gerald. Darelle inquires as to whether Abernard noticed anything weird or different about Gerald, and reports her beliefs that an impostor is running around. Abernard states that in fact Gerald has not been his whinny self lately, and no calamity has befallen the town.
After hearing the sisters' plea for help in sealing the gap in the crystal, Abernard travels to the Hunters' Lodge and takes care of the problem.
Friday, March 17, 2017
The Foxes assemble
Gozran 5, 4712
Concerned over the loyalty of the Hellknight command staff, Roscoe and Omok devise a clever strategy to determine whom can be counted on. Every day, they will question the orb of command with the name of a Hellknight on the command staff and determine whether that individual is loyal to Roscoe or not. Over the course of the next 45 days, the same depressing answer is returned: No one is loyal to Roscoe. The entire command is not loyal, nor are any of the senior officers out in the field. Roscoe begins to ponder how to replace the command structure before it is too late.
Three options present themselves to Roscoe. First, he can clean up the command staff of Fort Inevitable either by wholesale replacement or through attrition and appoint a new command staff that will be loyal to him. His second option is to figure a way to exile the Hellknights completely by clever stratagem or rapid battle attrition, and replace them with soldiers loyal to Roscoe before the next quarterly exchange of troops. The third option is to simply walk away from the Fort and its people.
It will take Roscoe a long time to reach a decision, and he wants to talk to his siblings. Unfortunately, none of them are currently around.
Sarenith 12, 4712
Now back from investigating the stealing of lumber, Daryle and Darelle meet with Roscoe and report on their discoveries. First, they mention that one of the conversation they overheard on the Unbroken dealt with the rumor that Duke Mosley's injuries were serious and were getting worse. Such rumors have been swirling around Fort Inevitable for a few months now.
They mention to him that it's time to come up with an exit strategy from Fort Inevitable. Roscoe tells them he's been thinking the same thing, and it is time to implement his strategy. He presents the options he and Omok have been weighing over the last few weeks. The sisters agree that the first option, that of replacing the command staff with new leaders is the best option. There is no realistic way to entirely remove the Hellknights from Fort Inevitable, and as for simply walking away many people in town and around depend on them, including their mother's cousin and others who depend on them for help or for work.
Roscoe mentions that there are references in Hellknight files to an organization in Fort Inevitable called the Seven Foxes. This resistance group was decimated six years ago when two of its leaders were arrested, tried, and executed following the assassination of the former Lord Commander, Emos Varden. Since then there have been hints that this group still operates in the shadows, but none of the remaining principals' identities have been revealed. Perhaps someone can connect Roscoe with this group and survey their interest in participating in a replacement of the Hellknight command staff? Darelle says that she's never heard of this group, but Dr. Mordel probably has. The Coopers decide to go talk to him. Their plan is to invite some of the Foxes at the Hunters' Lodge, then discuss with them Roscoe's plan.
After exchanging pleasantries, Darelle reaches the reason for their visit. She explains the dilemma the Coopers are in, and explains the three options outlined by Roscoe. Mordel agrees that the first option is not the safest, but it provides the most likelyhood of keeping Fort Inevitable away from disaster. Roscoe asks Mordel if he knows of anyone who could serve in a leadership position and be loyal to the town. Mordel provides the names of six people who could form an effective council to govern Fort Inevitable: Falandra Nolm, whom he trusts; Abernard Roysts, whom he does not trust; Karlyle the Butcher, whom he does not trust but knows he has Fort Inevitable's best interests at heart; Doliver Reedbank, owner of the Juliver Arms, whom he trusts; Mormuk Goldfoot, owner of Goldfoot's Mercantile, whom he trust; and Peter Ardra, son of Adrian Ardra, one of the civic leaders of Fort Inevitable. Adrian was executed following the assassination of the Lord Commander Varden in 4706, and Peter is currently in exile. When asked by Darelle whether he could also serve, Dr. Mordel replies that he has no interest being involved in such a leadership entity. He expresses that he has enough work with his research and his patients.
Departing Dr. Mordel's hospital, Roscoe and the sisters decide they need to organize a meeting between themselves and members of the Seven Foxes. Getting the Seven Foxes involved, along with the citizens named by Dr. Mordel would help fill a void left with a dismantling of the Hellknight command staff. Roscoe asks his sisters where they think they should start looking. Daryle mentions that Mordel suggested Karlyle's name. Since she's on friendly terms with Karlyle, and he seems to know everyone that's anyone in Fort Inevitable, he's probably the first one the Coopers should talk to. Roscoe agrees and says that he will talk to Doliver, since he used to live there and knows the halfling pretty well. Darelle agrees to talk to Falandra. The Coopers part ways to talk to their respectives contacts.
Daryle is the first one to reach her destination. The doors are wide open, and Karlyle is busy butchering a sheep with his assistant. They make small talk for a few minutes, and then Daryle intimates that she would like to talk to him alone. Karlyle sends his assistant away, and brings Dayle to his storage area. Daryle uses all of her diplomatic and innuendo to invite Karlyle to a dinner at the Hunters' Lodge that very night. She tells him that he can invite a friend, and intimates that she hopes members of the Seven Foxes will be present. When Karlyle discovers that Roscoe will also be there, he wonders aloud, in these times of trouble, how his return back to the Fort will be made safe. Understanding that he's asking for a guarantee of safety that this is not a Hellknight trap to catch the resistance, Daryle personally vouches that he will neither be harmed not impeded. Karlyle agrees to meet her there at dinner time.
Roscoe arrives at the Juliver Arms. As he enters, the conversation among the numerous guests gathered for lunch swiftly come to an end. He steps to the counter, and is greeted by Doliver Reedbank. They talk for a few minutes, then Roscoe notices that the place has emptied rather quickly. He takes this opportunity to invite the halfling to a meeting at the Hunters' Lodge. Doliver agrees to meet him there at dinner. Roscoe steps outside, and waits around the corner. The departed guests all return inside the inn. Roscoe shakes his head and walks away. This is another reason to implement his plan!
Darelle walks to Nolm Bindery and is greeted by Gerald, who appears to be balancing the books. Something is off, though, and she can't quite put her finger on it. She meets Falandra in the back of the store, and asks her if she's noticed something strange about Gerald. Falandra replies that indeed she has. Gerald has not screwed up anything nor has he destroyed anything of significance in the last month. Darelle shakes this off and invites Falandra to dinner tonight. She agrees to attend.
In the afternoon the Coopers arrive at the Hunters' Lodge. Darelle prepares a sumptuous meal. Daryle patrols the grounds. Roscoe prepares his argument. Around five, the guests begin to arrive. Karlyle is the first one there, followed closely by Falandra and Abernard. Soon, Doliver and his cousin Dunleaf Appletop also cross the bridge. High Mother Sarise Dremagne , head of the Temple of the Golden Key arrives next. This surprises Roscoe, but not as much as the next guest to arrive: Maralictor Wirt! Finally, old Mother Holworth is the last to arrive. There are now seven guests at the Hunters' Lodge.
Roscoe questions Wirt and asks who invited her. Mother Holworth discreetly nods at the group, and Karlyle reveals that he invited her. Wirt may not be loyal to Roscoe, but she appears to be loyal to the people of the Fort. Roscoe then presents his plan, with the hope that the Seven Foxes could take a leadership position. Mother Holworth retorts that they are not willing to stick their neck out at this time in case his plan backfires, but they know some reliable young folks who could step up and fill these roles, with the Seven Foxes remaining in the shadows for the time being. However, Dunleaf adds, they have a condition. Thorne and his various associates and enterprises must be dealt with. Roscoe tells them that Thorne has already lost access to the treasury, and that he is more than willing to deal with his associates if Dunleaf could provide a list of names. Dunleaf agrees to do so. Darelle talks with Dunleaf Appletop about the missing lumber and reports what her sister and her discovered. Dunleaf is pleased that at least the wholesale theft of lumber from Fort Inevitable has been dealt with. Falandra agrees to take a look at the bookkeeping Thorne did while in charge.
Satisfied with their meeting, the Seven Foxes depart. The Coopers return to Fort Inevitable soon after. That very night, Falandra delivers three forged letters to Roscoe.
Sarenith 13, 4712
In the morning, Roscoe requests his top three commanding officers to meet with him, one at a time. Using Falandra's forged letters, he informs them that he has received news from the Hellknight hierarchy that several forts have recently lost their commanding officers, and due to their tireless and devoted services, they are being promoted but most leave immediately. By the end of the day, all three have ridden away. Roscoe's plan has begun!
Concerned over the loyalty of the Hellknight command staff, Roscoe and Omok devise a clever strategy to determine whom can be counted on. Every day, they will question the orb of command with the name of a Hellknight on the command staff and determine whether that individual is loyal to Roscoe or not. Over the course of the next 45 days, the same depressing answer is returned: No one is loyal to Roscoe. The entire command is not loyal, nor are any of the senior officers out in the field. Roscoe begins to ponder how to replace the command structure before it is too late.
Three options present themselves to Roscoe. First, he can clean up the command staff of Fort Inevitable either by wholesale replacement or through attrition and appoint a new command staff that will be loyal to him. His second option is to figure a way to exile the Hellknights completely by clever stratagem or rapid battle attrition, and replace them with soldiers loyal to Roscoe before the next quarterly exchange of troops. The third option is to simply walk away from the Fort and its people.
It will take Roscoe a long time to reach a decision, and he wants to talk to his siblings. Unfortunately, none of them are currently around.
Sarenith 12, 4712
Now back from investigating the stealing of lumber, Daryle and Darelle meet with Roscoe and report on their discoveries. First, they mention that one of the conversation they overheard on the Unbroken dealt with the rumor that Duke Mosley's injuries were serious and were getting worse. Such rumors have been swirling around Fort Inevitable for a few months now.
They mention to him that it's time to come up with an exit strategy from Fort Inevitable. Roscoe tells them he's been thinking the same thing, and it is time to implement his strategy. He presents the options he and Omok have been weighing over the last few weeks. The sisters agree that the first option, that of replacing the command staff with new leaders is the best option. There is no realistic way to entirely remove the Hellknights from Fort Inevitable, and as for simply walking away many people in town and around depend on them, including their mother's cousin and others who depend on them for help or for work.
Roscoe mentions that there are references in Hellknight files to an organization in Fort Inevitable called the Seven Foxes. This resistance group was decimated six years ago when two of its leaders were arrested, tried, and executed following the assassination of the former Lord Commander, Emos Varden. Since then there have been hints that this group still operates in the shadows, but none of the remaining principals' identities have been revealed. Perhaps someone can connect Roscoe with this group and survey their interest in participating in a replacement of the Hellknight command staff? Darelle says that she's never heard of this group, but Dr. Mordel probably has. The Coopers decide to go talk to him. Their plan is to invite some of the Foxes at the Hunters' Lodge, then discuss with them Roscoe's plan.
After exchanging pleasantries, Darelle reaches the reason for their visit. She explains the dilemma the Coopers are in, and explains the three options outlined by Roscoe. Mordel agrees that the first option is not the safest, but it provides the most likelyhood of keeping Fort Inevitable away from disaster. Roscoe asks Mordel if he knows of anyone who could serve in a leadership position and be loyal to the town. Mordel provides the names of six people who could form an effective council to govern Fort Inevitable: Falandra Nolm, whom he trusts; Abernard Roysts, whom he does not trust; Karlyle the Butcher, whom he does not trust but knows he has Fort Inevitable's best interests at heart; Doliver Reedbank, owner of the Juliver Arms, whom he trusts; Mormuk Goldfoot, owner of Goldfoot's Mercantile, whom he trust; and Peter Ardra, son of Adrian Ardra, one of the civic leaders of Fort Inevitable. Adrian was executed following the assassination of the Lord Commander Varden in 4706, and Peter is currently in exile. When asked by Darelle whether he could also serve, Dr. Mordel replies that he has no interest being involved in such a leadership entity. He expresses that he has enough work with his research and his patients.
Departing Dr. Mordel's hospital, Roscoe and the sisters decide they need to organize a meeting between themselves and members of the Seven Foxes. Getting the Seven Foxes involved, along with the citizens named by Dr. Mordel would help fill a void left with a dismantling of the Hellknight command staff. Roscoe asks his sisters where they think they should start looking. Daryle mentions that Mordel suggested Karlyle's name. Since she's on friendly terms with Karlyle, and he seems to know everyone that's anyone in Fort Inevitable, he's probably the first one the Coopers should talk to. Roscoe agrees and says that he will talk to Doliver, since he used to live there and knows the halfling pretty well. Darelle agrees to talk to Falandra. The Coopers part ways to talk to their respectives contacts.
Daryle is the first one to reach her destination. The doors are wide open, and Karlyle is busy butchering a sheep with his assistant. They make small talk for a few minutes, and then Daryle intimates that she would like to talk to him alone. Karlyle sends his assistant away, and brings Dayle to his storage area. Daryle uses all of her diplomatic and innuendo to invite Karlyle to a dinner at the Hunters' Lodge that very night. She tells him that he can invite a friend, and intimates that she hopes members of the Seven Foxes will be present. When Karlyle discovers that Roscoe will also be there, he wonders aloud, in these times of trouble, how his return back to the Fort will be made safe. Understanding that he's asking for a guarantee of safety that this is not a Hellknight trap to catch the resistance, Daryle personally vouches that he will neither be harmed not impeded. Karlyle agrees to meet her there at dinner time.
Roscoe arrives at the Juliver Arms. As he enters, the conversation among the numerous guests gathered for lunch swiftly come to an end. He steps to the counter, and is greeted by Doliver Reedbank. They talk for a few minutes, then Roscoe notices that the place has emptied rather quickly. He takes this opportunity to invite the halfling to a meeting at the Hunters' Lodge. Doliver agrees to meet him there at dinner. Roscoe steps outside, and waits around the corner. The departed guests all return inside the inn. Roscoe shakes his head and walks away. This is another reason to implement his plan!
Darelle walks to Nolm Bindery and is greeted by Gerald, who appears to be balancing the books. Something is off, though, and she can't quite put her finger on it. She meets Falandra in the back of the store, and asks her if she's noticed something strange about Gerald. Falandra replies that indeed she has. Gerald has not screwed up anything nor has he destroyed anything of significance in the last month. Darelle shakes this off and invites Falandra to dinner tonight. She agrees to attend.
In the afternoon the Coopers arrive at the Hunters' Lodge. Darelle prepares a sumptuous meal. Daryle patrols the grounds. Roscoe prepares his argument. Around five, the guests begin to arrive. Karlyle is the first one there, followed closely by Falandra and Abernard. Soon, Doliver and his cousin Dunleaf Appletop also cross the bridge. High Mother Sarise Dremagne , head of the Temple of the Golden Key arrives next. This surprises Roscoe, but not as much as the next guest to arrive: Maralictor Wirt! Finally, old Mother Holworth is the last to arrive. There are now seven guests at the Hunters' Lodge.
Roscoe questions Wirt and asks who invited her. Mother Holworth discreetly nods at the group, and Karlyle reveals that he invited her. Wirt may not be loyal to Roscoe, but she appears to be loyal to the people of the Fort. Roscoe then presents his plan, with the hope that the Seven Foxes could take a leadership position. Mother Holworth retorts that they are not willing to stick their neck out at this time in case his plan backfires, but they know some reliable young folks who could step up and fill these roles, with the Seven Foxes remaining in the shadows for the time being. However, Dunleaf adds, they have a condition. Thorne and his various associates and enterprises must be dealt with. Roscoe tells them that Thorne has already lost access to the treasury, and that he is more than willing to deal with his associates if Dunleaf could provide a list of names. Dunleaf agrees to do so. Darelle talks with Dunleaf Appletop about the missing lumber and reports what her sister and her discovered. Dunleaf is pleased that at least the wholesale theft of lumber from Fort Inevitable has been dealt with. Falandra agrees to take a look at the bookkeeping Thorne did while in charge.
Satisfied with their meeting, the Seven Foxes depart. The Coopers return to Fort Inevitable soon after. That very night, Falandra delivers three forged letters to Roscoe.
Sarenith 13, 4712
In the morning, Roscoe requests his top three commanding officers to meet with him, one at a time. Using Falandra's forged letters, he informs them that he has received news from the Hellknight hierarchy that several forts have recently lost their commanding officers, and due to their tireless and devoted services, they are being promoted but most leave immediately. By the end of the day, all three have ridden away. Roscoe's plan has begun!
Monday, August 25, 2014
Great, now that we're here, what should we do for work?
Abadius 23, 4711
Upon arriving in Fort Inevitable, the first thing the Riverbottom family did was look for their mother's cousin, Alina Merlon. She had married a Numerian and had left Razmiran decades ago.
They approached the Juliver Gate, one of the two gates leading into the Fort. There, they encountered a half-orc Hellknight named Bolgur, who gave them a hard time. The siblings noticed that the guard presence was heavy and that everyone entering or leaving was questioned by the master of the gate, and all cargoes and bags were thoroughly inspected. After a few exchanges, Bolgur revealed that Alina Merlon lives next door to Mother Holworth, one of the most successful farmer in the area. So the siblings made their way back to the farm, and finally met their mother's cousin for the first time. At first, she wasn't convinced, but when she recognized the triplets and read Gertrude's letter, she welcomed them with open arms.
The Merlon farm currently is currently run by Alina, as her husband died in the Mendevian Crusade. She's assisted by two indentured servants, Brand Plentygold and Lister Cartwright, who assigned to her by the Hellknights. The estate is small, but produces wheat and barley, an array of vegetables, as well as apples and cherries. A few dairy cows are kept, along with a coop of chickens and a small herd of goats. Alina informed the siblings that she could provide them room and board, but that they would have to work around the farm and help out whenever they could, taxes being high and money being short.
Abadius 24, 4711
With the dawn of a new day, the siblings decide to change their last name from Riverbottom to Cooper, in case anyone from Razmiran is searching for them. On the advice of Alina, Darelle pays a visit to Mother Holworth, from the farm next door. A stern, sharp-tongued woman in her mid 70s, she has outlived two husbands and now lives with her children, grandchildren, and even a few very young great-grandchildren. She runs the best dairy farm in the region, and Holworth cheeses are renowned far and wide. Upon seeing Darelle's animal affinity, she hires her for 5 bits a week, a modest sum even in Fort Inevitable.
Daryle is more enterprising. She enters the town, and heads straight to Karlyle the Butcher, where she inquires whether he would be interested in purchasing game from her. He informs her that he would certainly buy deer, but smaller game does not interest him. He also advises her that he also purchases goblin skins, for 3 crowns each, after they are turned to the Hellknights for the 5 crowns bounty. Daryle promptly obtains her work permit from the Hellknights, and begins to explore the countryside, looking for the best place to capture deer.
Gerald, being weak and often sick, inquires with Alina if there were anyone in town that could use his intelligence and his creative talents. She tells him that Falandra Nolm, owner of Nolm Bindery, may, but she's not sure. That's not a service she often uses. Hopeful, he still makes his way there. Falandra informs him that she does not need an employee, but that is Gerald is skilled enough with ink and feather, she will pay him a set piece, generally 25% of the sale price, to transcribe books. He graciously accepts her offer, and she gives him a quick tour of the bindery. A small space is dedicated to the bindery business itself, with about half of the floor housing book shelves covered with books on many different subjects. In the back, behind the counter, is Falandra's office, and Gerald is able to glance what appears to be an alchemist lab before Falandra closes the door, telling him that he is not allowed to go there. She provides him with a basic book, and he begins recopying it. Later on in the afternoon he meets Abernard Royst, a whire-haired sage of about 60. Knowledgeable, he comes to the bindery every day to talk with Falandra, browse books, and generally purchase one or two.
Roscoe decides to earn coins by plying his love of music into a trade. He approaches Doliver Reedbank, the owner of the Juliver Arms, one of two drinking establishments in Fort Inevitable. After hearing and seeing him play a couple of songs, Doliver hires him to play six nights a week in exchange for a small room on the third floor, breakfast, and dinner. Roscoe is on his own for lunch, but he may keep all the tips he earns.
Alina doesn't want Thorne to leave the farm and go to the Fort, but he doesn't listen, and, after careful inquiries, decides to contact Thom Braddon, the owner of Braddon's General Store, the only general store in Fort Inevitable. Perhaps this is a place where he may be able to ply his trade.
Upon arriving in Fort Inevitable, the first thing the Riverbottom family did was look for their mother's cousin, Alina Merlon. She had married a Numerian and had left Razmiran decades ago.
They approached the Juliver Gate, one of the two gates leading into the Fort. There, they encountered a half-orc Hellknight named Bolgur, who gave them a hard time. The siblings noticed that the guard presence was heavy and that everyone entering or leaving was questioned by the master of the gate, and all cargoes and bags were thoroughly inspected. After a few exchanges, Bolgur revealed that Alina Merlon lives next door to Mother Holworth, one of the most successful farmer in the area. So the siblings made their way back to the farm, and finally met their mother's cousin for the first time. At first, she wasn't convinced, but when she recognized the triplets and read Gertrude's letter, she welcomed them with open arms.
The Merlon farm currently is currently run by Alina, as her husband died in the Mendevian Crusade. She's assisted by two indentured servants, Brand Plentygold and Lister Cartwright, who assigned to her by the Hellknights. The estate is small, but produces wheat and barley, an array of vegetables, as well as apples and cherries. A few dairy cows are kept, along with a coop of chickens and a small herd of goats. Alina informed the siblings that she could provide them room and board, but that they would have to work around the farm and help out whenever they could, taxes being high and money being short.
Abadius 24, 4711
With the dawn of a new day, the siblings decide to change their last name from Riverbottom to Cooper, in case anyone from Razmiran is searching for them. On the advice of Alina, Darelle pays a visit to Mother Holworth, from the farm next door. A stern, sharp-tongued woman in her mid 70s, she has outlived two husbands and now lives with her children, grandchildren, and even a few very young great-grandchildren. She runs the best dairy farm in the region, and Holworth cheeses are renowned far and wide. Upon seeing Darelle's animal affinity, she hires her for 5 bits a week, a modest sum even in Fort Inevitable.
Daryle is more enterprising. She enters the town, and heads straight to Karlyle the Butcher, where she inquires whether he would be interested in purchasing game from her. He informs her that he would certainly buy deer, but smaller game does not interest him. He also advises her that he also purchases goblin skins, for 3 crowns each, after they are turned to the Hellknights for the 5 crowns bounty. Daryle promptly obtains her work permit from the Hellknights, and begins to explore the countryside, looking for the best place to capture deer.
Gerald, being weak and often sick, inquires with Alina if there were anyone in town that could use his intelligence and his creative talents. She tells him that Falandra Nolm, owner of Nolm Bindery, may, but she's not sure. That's not a service she often uses. Hopeful, he still makes his way there. Falandra informs him that she does not need an employee, but that is Gerald is skilled enough with ink and feather, she will pay him a set piece, generally 25% of the sale price, to transcribe books. He graciously accepts her offer, and she gives him a quick tour of the bindery. A small space is dedicated to the bindery business itself, with about half of the floor housing book shelves covered with books on many different subjects. In the back, behind the counter, is Falandra's office, and Gerald is able to glance what appears to be an alchemist lab before Falandra closes the door, telling him that he is not allowed to go there. She provides him with a basic book, and he begins recopying it. Later on in the afternoon he meets Abernard Royst, a whire-haired sage of about 60. Knowledgeable, he comes to the bindery every day to talk with Falandra, browse books, and generally purchase one or two.
Roscoe decides to earn coins by plying his love of music into a trade. He approaches Doliver Reedbank, the owner of the Juliver Arms, one of two drinking establishments in Fort Inevitable. After hearing and seeing him play a couple of songs, Doliver hires him to play six nights a week in exchange for a small room on the third floor, breakfast, and dinner. Roscoe is on his own for lunch, but he may keep all the tips he earns.
Alina doesn't want Thorne to leave the farm and go to the Fort, but he doesn't listen, and, after careful inquiries, decides to contact Thom Braddon, the owner of Braddon's General Store, the only general store in Fort Inevitable. Perhaps this is a place where he may be able to ply his trade.
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