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Post by Kai Wren on Jan 21, 2019 18:33:52 GMT
Dantallion Holdfast was a man who did not smile often. A Shield Dwarf with a beard of fine, lush, dark locks woven in traditional fashion, most people assumed that Dantallion was dour because it was expected of a dwarf. He certainly worked hard to give off that kind of aura. His stony grey eyes and the set of his jaw, the thick, banded mail wrapped perpetually about his stocky frame, there was little about him that didn’t scream Dwarvish Pride. Except the tattoo, of course. The tattoo was visible this evening because he had removed his leather gloves, and one thick-fingered hand drummed a slow, steady beat against the sticky table of this fetid little tavern. The tattoo was of a kraken; a beast of legend so far from the dwarven holds that it was difficult to think of anything further removed. Only the twisting tendrils of it were visible; lines of deep ocean blue inked carefully into the man’s thick skin. The tavern – The Drinken Ork, notable mostly for the ability of the landlord to misspell two out of three of the words on his own sign – was a loud and rowdy place, filled with sailors who were both still eager to drink, and running out of the funds with which to do it anywhere nice. Outside, the winter chill drove many such hapless souls into a space which seemed, somehow, to be composed almost entirely of drafts, with only the inadequate fire to drive the winter back from the revel within. For all that, the majority were smiling, and laughing – perhaps a little too loud, perhaps a little too forced – but Waterdeep was a city of infinite possibility, and here, there was never a trouble so great that it didn’t feel as though the solution could be right around the corner. It was easy enough to lose yourself, to jest and find song and hearth and health. Dantallion, though, did not smile. Word had leaked through the usual channels. A shady network of rumour, innuendo, trusted sources and excitable middle-men eager to take their cut. From his table, seated, drumming, Dantallion waited for the three souls he had been assured would come here to make their way to the tavern. They had been told that there was a problem; that monsters threatened a spirit, and their muscle, magic and moxie were the only things that could be counted on to drive them back. That was a truth, of a sort. They had been told to meet the man with the octopus tattoo, at this time and in this place. They had been told that there would be payment, that they could ask their questions, that they might even obtain answers. Those things, too, were truths, of a sort. But this place, and the truths that Dantallion had to share, did not make him smile. He could not lose himself in the joy and wonder at what new secrets tomorrow might bring. Because Dantallion was not, in fact, a very traditional dwarf. He was quite untraditional, point of fact. And the problems he had to solve were very far from Waterdeep indeed. ( Kralle Arikarka Ossular - feel free to post in however you like; if you have questions you can catch me on Discord or PM or post here, whatever you feel would work easiest) |
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Arikarka
Approved
Linked Characters: Citrine, Gigi, and Rhia
Posts: 316 
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Post by Arikarka on Jan 21, 2019 20:01:30 GMT
Having spent a few weeks now in Waterdeep, still maintaining her room in the Ship's Prow Inn, Citrine had been making a name for herself… or at the very least, her reputation was making a name for itself for her. Showy, flamboyant, and with eyes a bit unnerving in how intense they seemed to be, the peacocking phoenix was easy going and slowly, but surely, making her rounds into being known all throughout the Dock Ward. It was her own personal goal, to have a drink in every single tavern, inn, and festhall all of Waterdeep had to offer. And she included the Castle on that list... and the prison but that was a minor detail. It was a daunting goal, but one she valiantly tried to get at least one notch in every day or so. Besides, you heard all sorts of rumors and whispers when you visited more than one place. The Man with the Kraken Tattoo was one such rumor she'd wagered for in a hand of cards. The shady man with this hood up had been insistent that she'd be interested in the job he had. Citrine, intrigued right from the get go like a moth to flame, trilled a questioning tune and sat down and picked up the hand of cards on the table. She'd lost a few coins, owed a small minor favor, and had several tankards someone as small as she was probably shouldn't have imbibed - but finally, she'd broken even enough to win the rumor. Dressed in her cut-off red coat, a dark red thing with gold phoenixes stitched in the hem, corset style black leather pants that laced up either side, an emerald chest wrap the only thing under it (showing off plenty of tattoos down her arms and torso) and her dancer scarf tied wider to act as a sort of mid-drift shirt while still showing skin between it and the wrap, Citrine was excited to see what the rumor would bring about. A spirit causing trouble? She liked spirits. Anything to do with death, rebirth, and living on again - it sparked a curious turn of her head. Entering the Drinken Ork Citrine took a moment as usual to survey the scene before walking further. The scent of sweat, ale, smoke and more was like perfume to the pirate. Her own candlesmoke, ash, and clove smells that always surrounded her mixed in with the air around her and became one. Some of the patrons she recognized, from bar hopping in nights prior - she dipped her hat (a more muted one than her Captain's hat) in hello to them from across the way. She went up to one lass she knew, a dark skinned woman she'd met walking through the market a week ago or so, and leaned against the wall where she was at. "Oi Lass, how'er ye this eveinin'?" Dwarven whiskey and pirate sass colored her voice. "Oh - teh same ol' same - Rain. Jou loouok like ye be scoutin' for so'meone." A similar accent, but a bit more island-pacific, slower, like molasses. "Aye! Tha' Aye am. Ah man with ah kraken on their hand."The darker lass took a drag of her tobacco and puffed out. "I knae of no man, but tis ah dwarf I knae of. There. Dantallion." Her cigar pointed across the way to a dwarf, sitting at a table with three chairs around him. "Oi, lass, thank ye! Et'd 'ave taken ferever fer me tae look at all teh men's 'ands 'ere - an' then Aye'd get distracted an'…" She gave a quick peck of a kiss to the woman's neck and a trill of thanks. "Ye be ah time'saver Amelia." The woman, Amelia, rolled her eyes at the dramatics of the smaller bird woman and took a drag of her cigar again, but smiled faintly as the firebird walked away towards the table. "Ello there Lad!" She said as hello, mage handing one of the three chairs, the middle one, out and spinning in around so she could sit with the back of the chair in the front. She could never lean back in standard chairs - her wings wouldn't allow it. Curling her talons on the bars of the chair the sorcerer double checked - yes, there were the undeniable tendrils of an octopus. She would know, she had a tattoo of a kraken on her hip after all, taking up the whole thigh area. "Ye be teh one with teh kraken tattoo Aye take et?" She extended her hand over the table to shake. "Aye be one o' teh ones who 'eard about a problem with ah spirit ye've been havin'. Aye be Citrine ef ye be Dantallion." She wanted to be sure this was actually the right person, as she introduced herself to a potential employer. Bit embarrassing if it wasn't. |
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Post by Kralle on Jan 22, 2019 0:03:53 GMT
Nakan generally, as a rule, liked to know exactly what kind of work he was in for before accepting a job. Early on he’d been roped into a few somewhat shady dealings of questionable legal and moral standing. Granted, as soon as he learned what was going on he’d back out as quick as possible. The best case scenario was usually some dirty looks and a light coinpurse, but there were also the worst case scenarios that left their mark in one way or another.
This one felt different though. Nakan had been approached by a fairly inconspicuous individual, a man in simple garb and with an unremarkable appearance. The stranger had offered him work, with promises of pay of course. When the Goliath questioned him on the nature of the job, the man simply replied that all would be explained at a local tavern the next day. With only a vague description of a unique tattoo, directions to The Drinken Ork, tales of threatened spirts, and the promise of coin, Nakan had a hard time turning down the offer. Besides, he had nothing better to do, and he could use the work if it turned out to be legitimate.
So it was that Nakan did indeed arrive at the indicated tavern, stooping low to pass through the human-sized door into the rickety old establishment without cracking his skull on the doorframe. He got the usual treatment that this often entailed; a sudden hush falling over the patrons, a brief moment of gawking eyes and slackened jaws, and a rapid return to normalcy as the revelers returned to their drinks and conversations. To be expected, all things considered. He wasn’t exactly a common sight.
Nakan was dressed equally well for a fight as for a long trip. He wore a simple scaled tunic over a thick cloth shirt, sleeveless to allow for a better range of motion. His pants and boots were simple; hide trousers reinforced with leather along the front of the thighs and calves and a set of well-worn hobnail boots. The pants were held up with a simple leather belt, adorned with his ever-present cave bear totem, the paw the size of some of the wooden plates being used by the tavern goers. He carried his greataxe in his left hand, hanging relaxed at his side, while an iron maul and bundle of javelins were strapped securely to his back. Throw all of that onto someone so tall they need to duck through doorways and you have to be ready for a few stares.
On a positive note, his height made it quite easy to scan the tavern’s interior as he wove through the crowded mob of merry-makers and drunkards.
After a bit of wandering and difficulty in finding the proper tattoo (why did nearly everyone have to be bundled up in winter clothes?), Nakan managed to spot the man he was supposed to meet with. The dwarf certainly looked...well...like a dwarf. Nakan had dealt with dwarves often enough, even before leaving his tribe. As a whole, he found them to be a decent sort.
As Nakan crossed the barroom, he caught sight of the other individual sitting at the table. A crimson-clad woman, of a race Nakan couldn’t quite place, sat animatedly speaking to the dwarf. It was fairly obvious she wasn’t some simple sailor or dockworker in for a pint after work. In fact, Nakan thought he had heard a few tales and rumors about a similar looking individual who’d recently arrived in the Dock Ward. Regardless, he was reasonably sure she was an adventurer or at least something like one. That made him doubly sure that the stonefaced dwarf was the man he was meant to meet.
He approached the table, opting to sit in the sturdier looking chair to the left of the early arrival. Nakan set down his axe, allowing the head to drop to the floor with a dull *thud* and resting the leather-bound haft against the edge of the table. He wasn’t worried about another patron possibly trying to scurry off with it. Most of the average folk in the tavern would likely throw out their backs trying to lift the weapon. Anyone else would have to beat the Goliath to the door, and that would be easier said than done.
Settling into the chair with a few creaks of protest from the wood, Nakan would then wait patiently for the other adventurer to continue her introduction. He made a mental note of her name, Citrine. The Goliath leaned forward, crossing his scarred and black-patterned arms and resting them on the weathered wooden table, before introducing himself to both individuals when their conversation reached an appropriate pause.
"And I'm Nakan, pleasure to meet you both. By the sound of it, I'm here for the same job."
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Post by Ossular on Jan 22, 2019 17:36:51 GMT
"You know the Drinken Ork?"
"Which one of us doesn't know the Ork?"
"Well, you said to keep my ear out for any kinda rumor to see if anythin' pops up, Mr. Aliester."
"Aye. And?"
"Well, at the Drinken Ork, there be this dwarf, Dandelion or somethin', wit' a octopus or somethin' on his hand. 'Parently, this dwarf is lookin' for people to solve a problem. Seems right up your alley with your knowledge of the magics and what-not yer always readin' in them books."
"Go on."
"Right. Said somethin' about you meetin' him there to talk to him 'bout this problem he has. Figured you'd go check it out and go adventurin' and whatnot, right?"
"Well... it's appreciated. Anything else I should know?"His answer was a shrug and a grunt. Either way, though, James Aliester had a lead and a location for a potential job. Random acts of kindness could only get one so far, and his room at the Yawning Portal was about to come up, so he couldn't really say no. If it were some kind of job, the Eldritch Knight wanted to be as prepared as possible. Dressed his his splint armor and with several of his weapons fastened and holstered around his body, Aliester threw on a cloak to help him with the cold brisk winds that slithered through the Docks, opting to carry his shield and his greatsword before setting out to find the Drinken Ork. It wasn't like it was a hard tavern to find. His first year was spent in the Docks, and he had broken up plenty of bar-fights that had gotten out of hand and spilled into the streets. The one benefit he had was that his appearance was no longer that of a guard, but instead of an adventurer, a mercenary-for-fire. He was expecting a bit of an interview. What he wasn't expecting, when he came into the Ork, was to not only almost immediately find this dwarf, but two other people at the table- one of which he already knew. The wild-winged woman that he had met on the night of his retirement, standing out with her fiery wings, clothes of darker colors and the crimson coat- Citrine. The other was a massive humanoid, a goliath. He had seen several in his time as a guard, and he remembered getting drug into a fight with one during a patrol- something he wouldn't want a repeat of, that was for sure. Aliester took a breath and pressed forward, coming toward the table with the woman, the goliath and the dwarf. His eyes did see the end of the octopus tattoo across the back of his hand, and the knight would ponder what it meant- maybe he was a sailor? Either way, a job was a job at this point, and he wouldn't have his room without a couple dragons to toss Durnan's way. The man still ran a business, after all. Aliester didn't sit down just yet, though. He wanted to be sure he had the right table. "I heard you were looking for help? I suppose the rumors are true if more than just myself showed up," the fighter would curl his lips upward. "Citrine," he'd nod toward her a quick hello, not wanting to delay anything any further. |
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Post by Kai Wren on Jan 23, 2019 5:22:20 GMT
Dantallion grunted as the trio made themselves known. His dark eyes swept across them, and the dour dwarf nodded his head, once, in satisfaction. The adventurers were plainly that – adventurers, and truthfully, that was all he could have asked for.
“I am he.” The tattooed dwarf agreed, looking to Citrine. “But the spirit is not the problem. The goblins are.”
A humourless smile tugged at the corners of his beard as he gestured to the axe. “But I think between the three of you, you should have what it takes to set things right.”
He reached inside his armour, and produced a long scroll which had been tucked between the metal and the gambeson beneath. Pulling it out, he spread it across the table, revealing a map. Or at least, a fragment of one; carefully cut, the sketch was impressive in its detail but clearly had been part of something far bigger once.
“Here.”
Dantallion’s finger jabbed down onto a rough-marked X scrawled across one of the hills between the Sword Mountains and Kryptgarden Forest.
“The Sword Mountains have always been a pain in our rear.” He grumbled, “Filled with orcs and goblins and all manner of beasts. The Forest isn’t much better. Stranger, older things in there, but at least the druids keep them under control, for the most part.”
He sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose, as though merely thinking about the number of frustrating and dangerous things waiting in that wilderness was too much to contemplate.
“There’s been rumour for a while, from those very druids, about a goblin chief who is trying to pull an Ukrypt. Unite the goblin tribes under his banner and then sweep out of the mountains to take whatever he can get his grubby little hands on. Normally, we’d not worry too much, but apparently this little bastard has more cunning than your average goblin.”
His finger continued to drum against the table, his expression deadly serious as he settled his gaze on Aliester.
“Strange rites and mysterious smoke rising from that hill at night. Fire and chanting and all manner of oddness. It’s a bad time of year for Kryptgarden, or they might have dealt with it themselves, but the winter nights are long and dark, and the older evils the druids keep slumbering might stir if they dragged their rear ends away from their precious circles and actually did something themselves. Or so they tell me.”
The dwarf blew hard through his nose, and huffed. Another reach beneath the table, and this time, he brought up a fat purse which gave a very satisfying thunk as it hit the table. Several of the other patrons in the bar looked over curiously; but given the looming Nakan, seemed to think better of trying to intervene in whatever business was going on over there.
Dantallion cleared his throat. “So. To cut to the chase. We need you to go to the hill, figure out if the goblins really are stirring up trouble they ought not, and if you can, put an end to this nonsense before it becomes a real problem. Five hundred gold for each of you, payable on return with evidence that you’ve done the deed. And you can keep whatever you find in their little den. Thieving goblins tend to get quite a stash.”
That unpleasant, humourless smile returned at that.
“I suggest the head of the Chief if you can manage it. Hard to argue with that.”
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Arikarka
Approved
Linked Characters: Citrine, Gigi, and Rhia
Posts: 316
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Post by Arikarka on Jan 23, 2019 17:00:25 GMT
Pleased she had the right person, she'd have to be sure to thank Amelia personally later - Citrine took back her hand, unshaken, but didn't let it bother her. Not everyone was one to share casual touches in greetings. Her almost-trill of self satisfaction was cut off when the heavy sound of someone very tall, very heavy, and very eye catching strolled up to the table.
She couldn't help herself. The whistle started low, jumped to a higher pitch, then spiraled downward like a leaf falling from the sky - all ending in a series of clicks and clacks that somehow her voice box was able to make without a proper beak. She'd spoken in Aarakocran. "Aye." She began slowly, not because she was concerned at his ability to comprehend speech, but because rarely in her life had she been this close to someone so giant. And being as small as she was? Four foot and change? It made his height seem even that more impressive. "Aye'm very glad tae meet ye, Nakan." Oh yes she was. She knew who she'd be flying behind if her fragile hollow bones and delicate plumage started to take a beatings she couldn't quite handle. Making sure he had enough room at the table (his arms were HUGE up close!) she kept her arms crossed under her chin as she leaned against the backing of the chair.
She would have commented more had the third person not stepped up then. "James!" She trilled a returned greeting, head lifting from her crossed wrists, in a much more familiar manner than she'd introduced herself to the dwarf and giant. She remembered him - retired at a young age to take on adventuring. She'd made him keep the empty bottle as a memento of the night. She was curious if he kept it or threw it out. Small talk, easy to her as breathing, would have streamed out of her mouth had Dantallion not started right then and there in describing the situation.
The map drew her attention, it was something to focus on. The 'X' even more attention grabbing… pirate… but soon? Talks of the circles and druids and long nights.. Bla blah blahhh… the firebird's attention began to waiver. There were two others here who would (hopefully) be more interested in the plans and details of what they were being asked to do… Her eyes began wandering around the inn, her tail flicked back and fort lazily like a cat's, and a sheen began to coat her eyes as she started to day dream and….
THUNK
Her attention was back. And just in time too, as the dwarf gave a summary of what he needed. Goblins, spirit-y-weirdness investigated, Head of a Chief.
Her talons curled under her chair at the prospect of 500 gold dragons. She had her eye on making waves into the Shipmaster's Hall within the next few weeks. Having gold to support a hike in living cost that didn't need a routine of playing her violin would allow her to be more spontaneous with her music.
"Aye aye!" She agreed without having fully processed everything she'd been told. But the gold was right there. She had two party members who more than looked skilled in the weapons they carried. And she had nothing better to do. Plus? Her absent ear had heard something about strange smoke. And where there was strange smoke? There was strange fire. And where there was strange fire? Was a firebird too curious for her own good.
"Aye'm en ef ye lads are. Aye'm afraid Aye've left me axes an' sword an' shield at-ome, sae me spells will 'ave tae do." It was hard to tell if she was being serious or not, about the weapons. "Aye can promise ye Aye'll fight fire with fire, but… ye should knae, befer ye take teh job? Aye've --- uh…" She tapped her lip to figure the best was to describe it. "Me magic's ah bit wild, with ah mind of et's own, Aye dane always control et... S'long as tha' doesn't bother ye? Ye'll 'ave me along."
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Post by Kralle on Jan 23, 2019 22:20:23 GMT
Nakan looked at Citrine with a similar but somewhat more muted sense of interest and curiosity. The city had been one strange encounter after another. First it had been serpent-eyed philosophers, and now it was winged sailors. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what might be in store next.
As the Phoenix noticed a familiar face and turned to greet the man, Nakan also took a moment to consider the newcomer. A human, perfectly normal looking, but he carried himself like a professional. A professional who looked like he'd been in his fair share of fights in the past and knew how to handle himself.
Nakan would’ve introduced himself right then, but the rustling of parchment drew his attention back to Dantallion. As the dwarf presented the map and laid out the situation, Nakan paid close attention. The reference to Ukrypt he partially understood. He’d heard a few tavern bards sing tales about how some orc king or another had tried to conquer what would become Waterdeep. He had a hard time imaging a goblin tribe trying to do the same, the insane little runts were generally too greedy and self-serving to stay organized for any length of time. But there were always exceptions to rules, and as the hefty pouch of money landed heavily on the table, Nakan decided that this could be one of them.
He considered the proposal for a moment as Citrine voiced her enthused acceptance of the job, as well as issued a disclaimer about her arcane powers. The money was good, the job sounded legal, and it would get him out of the city for a while. It was a good offer, and one Nakan wasn’t about to refuse.
“Alright, I’m in too.” He turned to Citrine, a small smile on his lips. “And I’m not too worried about a little bit of uncontrolled magic. But your honesty is appreciated”
The Goliath would then lean back in his chair and wait for the third individual - he was fairly sure Citrine had called the man James - to make his own decision.
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Post by Ossular on Jan 25, 2019 16:34:35 GMT
So it was goblins? Aliester, realizing he was still standing, would take a seat at the table finally, pulling out the chair and leaning forward a little bit as the dwarf withdrew the map from his armor. Smiling at Citrine, he was going to say something more, but the map caught everyone's attention. He could read it well enough, at least what was presented. He watched as Dandelion's finger pointed to an "X" where he recognized the Sword Mountains and the Kryptgarden Forest. He also recognized the easiest way to get there was to travel up the Long Road north out of Waterdeep, at least past Red Larch, where they could probably break northwest and head through the Kryptgarden Forest to get to their destination. That was a lot of walking, though, maybe cut short if they could get some kind of wagon or caravan to give them a ride up the Road itself, at least.
Aliester would look up toward the dwarf as he pinched his nose. Apparently, there was a goblin chief that was a bit more devious than your normal goblin. He was trying to unite the goblins under the same banner and come out of the Sword Mountains to start raiding. The dwarf would meet his gaze, informing the three of them of fire and chanting and everything odd. While the fighter didn't know much of the druids or their circles, he had heard rumors of the evils they protected everyone else from. "Well, if they're keeping older evils at bay-" like dragons. The thought of a dragon made him innately chilled as the thought ran up his spine, "-then I think we can handle the goblins," he didn't want to offend the druids, nor the dwarf, so Aliester took a neutral tone on his comment.
As the eldritch knight turned back to the map, a bag of the only kind of dragons Aliester was interested in was set on the table. His eyes immediately shot toward it, along with several other patrons, though thanks to the size and natural intimidation of their goliath friend, people grew disinterested as fast as they had grown interested in the thump in the first place. Five-hundred gold pieces was a lot. It was nearly two, maybe three months at the Yawning Portal, drinks, food and equipment upkeep included, along with maybe some new clothes as well? And they were allowed to keep whatever they found at the goblin den? Aliester would purse his lips, reeling in his thoughts for a moment to think about this from a level-headed point of view.
"I'm in," James would exhale in agreement with the firebird and the goliath, "but what if there isn't any goblin chief leading an uprising? What if the rumor is just that- a rumor?" the ex-City Guard would ask. "Say we show up and there's nothing but normal goblins doing normal things? Or if there isn't a spirit?" He was fine with Citrine's wild magic because, while uncontrolled, it was a known variable. Same with the goliath- an axe like that? He had to know how to use it, right? But the possibility of walking for a couple weeks in each direction to turn up empty handed and not get paid? His room would be up and he'd be on the streets by the time he got back. "What would you accept as proof if that were to happen?"
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Post by Kai Wren on Jan 25, 2019 21:22:32 GMT
It is possible that there has been a man who looked less cheerful than Dantallion, but it would be a hard-pressed thing. The dwarf’s stormy expression as his eyes settled on Aliester was as stony as any mountain face could hope to be. He could teach a boulder a thing or two about impassivity. His gaze settled for a few, long, moments. Enough for it to grow uncomfortable. And only then, did he speak.
“The information.” He said, as deliberate as a headman’s swing, “Is solid. There’s something going on there. If you find nothing at all to speak of? We’ll pay half. But we’ll also check, lad. You don’t want to find out what the penalty’ll be if you’ve lied.”
If he had spoken the words like a threat, that might have been enough to give even experienced adventurers a pause – but Dantallion did not speak anything like a threat. He spoke with a calm but certain weight to his words, as though he were talking of undeniable facts which were simply not up for debate. With a similarly certain motion, he settled the hefty purse back into its hidden place.
He stood, then, and his gaze turned to each of the other adventurers in turn, a sharp nod to both Citrine and Nakan.
“I can’t say as I have much patience with magic.” He said, bluntly, “But I’m not the one going on this trip, and you’re all talented enough folk or you wouldn’t have been called to the task. I’d suggest you make haste. If you get there just in time for the whole mountain to explode or somesuch nonsense, then I won’t be paying you a bent penny.”
He rapped his knuckles three times, hard, on the table, and a serving girl appeared in an instant. He sprinkled a handful of silver onto her platter, and gave a loose wave to the trio.
“That’s my tab, and whatever drinks these three want.” He said, “I expect they’ll have a little more talking to do amongst themselves, for a bit yet.”
He turned back towards the table, though his body language made it clear he was intending to be away very swiftly.
“If you’ve any further questions, now’s your chance. I’ve other business to attend to before my night is done.”
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Arikarka
Approved
Linked Characters: Citrine, Gigi, and Rhia
Posts: 316
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Post by Arikarka on Jan 26, 2019 5:29:45 GMT
About to be ready to jump up and start the trudge in the hopeful correct direction Citrine paused when James asked his question. It was… a good question. Privately, she thought to herself, that just because information was good it didn't automatically make it correct either. The mood from the dwarf was impossible to miss - his stubborn stone resolve adding a weight to the task at hand that hadn't been there before. 'Oh lighten up Lad' she thought to herself with a bit of a chuckle. Life was about living, not being so dull it'd make a river stone jealous. And she highly doubted he or 'they' would double check anything. There was a reason they were hiring someone to take care of this and not themselves. But she wasn't going to call his bluff, he'd just shown he had the coins to back up any threat. And a stay in the dungeons wasn't how she wanted to spend her split.
Reassured though, despite the potential for only half pay, Citrine cascaded her thick talon nails on the counter as a tab was paid and a credit line extended. Her only frustration was a brief crinkle of her nose as she pushed hair out of her face. "Nuthin' fer me." She said, which might have come to a surprise to the table at large - especially James. He'd only gotten gotten as drunk as he did due to her continual and free-fall pouring of whiskey and summoned refills of ale back at the Yawning Portal.
A more focused look was on her face now, body language just a bit more calm and her eyes raptor-steady as she looked over the map once, twice, thrice more. She had no idea the layout of the land here, but it seemed there was a decent trip ahead of them. She knew the scale of how much land Waterdeep took up - her flights around the city sky weren't just for annoying the Griffin Calvary, and she'd traveled the coast enough times the past few weeks she had a decent idea of distance. And the Kryptgarden Forest was at least 100, if not further, miles to the center where the mountains were thicker.
One of the only mathematics she bothered with were running in her head (what sort of Captain would she be if she didn't have a good grip on map-and-travel distance configuration?) she hummed. "There's ah-least ah few days travel even ef we take teh road North." She frowned. "Aye'm faster en teh sky than on land, but tha' won't 'elp us stayin' as ah group." She looked over at Nakan. "And Aye doubt there's ah horse tha' can pull ye. Besides, horses bring attention. Ef there's trouble en teh area North? Horses will just bring et tae us faster tehn perhaps we want et tae." It seemed, most likely, they'd be hiking and camping for awhile. She'd have to pick up some supplies and perhaps put her trunk in a more secured storage.
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Post by Kralle on Jan 30, 2019 8:14:13 GMT
“Nothing for me, either.” Nakan would offhandedly reply, both to the offer of a drink or additional questioning.
The chair let out another muted groan of protest as Nakan shifted his weight again, considering the map on the table along with Aliester and Citrine’s input and questions regarding the situation. He’d never been any further north along the Sword Coast than Waterdeep, so this trip to Kryptgarden would be a true expedition for him. He worked to the best of his ability to commit the map to memory, focusing on landmarks. Rivers, hills, settlements, ridgelines - anything that would be distinct and likely still there regardless of the map’s age. If the map had been properly made and scaled, there would be more than a hundred miles to cover even if they went in a straight line. This wouldn’t be a quick trip.
His opinion was reinforced when Citrine piped up with her own estimation on the traveling time. The three of them would be roughing it for a while, that much was obvious. Not that Nakan truly minded being out in the wild. He actually preferred it to being crammed into the claustrophobic streets and alleys of the city. But it also had its own challenges and pitfalls that needed to be addressed. Fortunately, he had most of what he needed already; rations to last him a bit more than a week, a bedroll to keep him off the ground and out of the mud, and some other basic camping supplies. And if things should go sideways, he was confident enough in his hunting and bushcraft abilities to keep the three of them fed and alive long enough to get back to civilization.
As Citrine began to voice her thoughts on how the group would travel during the trip, Nakan had to agree with her points. Particularly in relation to being able to find a horse capable of supporting or pulling the goliath's significant weight and frame.
“Aye, none in Waterdeep at least. Maybe if we were in Narfell or Rashemen I could find something.” He took a breath and stretched a moment before continuing. His shoulders and back were beginning to ache, a combination of sitting still, the cold, and old injuries. “And you’re right about them being beacons for attention, not to mention extra mouths to feed and bodies to warm. Traveling on foot will be the best option for us to get close to the spot where these goblins are holed up.”
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Post by Ossular on Jan 30, 2019 17:44:09 GMT
Dantallion's craggy, mountainous expression settled on Aliester's stoic, phlegmatic face. While the dwarf was impassive and settled, the human's expression was just as reflective and smooth as the frozen wintry waters of the coast that ran the west side of the City of Splendors. For several moments, it would have been uncomfortable to most, but Aliester didn't look away, move back, or show any signs of leniency in his posture, even as the dwarf finally spoke. The veiled intimidation- the guarantee of a certainty, not a threat- was given, though Aliester still didn't move back just yet, not until Dantallion knocked on the table and the serving girl came over.
"No," Aliester would chime in, last but not least, "but I will take a pint of whatever ale the Ork has to offer," the fighter would turn to the serving girl with a small curve of his lips into a smirk before turning to the other two still at the table (assuming that the dwarf had left by now to attend his other business). He knew of Citrine, but nothing of Nakan outside of the racial profiling and the stories he had heard of other goliath encounters through the city.
"I agree with both of you-" Aliester would finally relax a little now that he wasn't in a staring match with a stubborn dwarf- "horses would be bad. Overall, it'll be best on foot, though, admittedly, I don't know much about either of you as far as what exactly you do, outside of Citrine here having potentially-" what was the best way to put this- "wild magic, as she put it," he'd make sure he had heard that right. "I myself dabble a little bit in the arcane. I'm decent with foraging and setting up a campsite or cooking, too, though... I'm not a very stealthy person in this armor," Aliester would admit, tapping his plate with the back of his gauntlet for a small CLANK-CLANK sound. "At least I know my way about... well, equipment in general, too," he'd smile slightly.
"And I know at least the roads, too," Aliester would tack on, the thoughts springing forth as he offered his suggestions. "Though it's been a couple years since I've done any real traveling to the north. Never really been in the Kyrptgarden Forest either, so I'm good until we get to-" the Eldritch Knight would think for a quick second, folding his arms inward and leaning onto the table a little more to talk a little more easily with his compatriots- "Red Larch, just on the edge of the Sumber Hills. There might be a caravan we could hop on to get up north a little faster?" Aliester would offer. "Save us a week or so of walking at least one direction if not both. Safety in numbers and all."
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Post by Kai Wren on Jan 30, 2019 19:47:25 GMT
((Just a quick note guys, as you are discussing amongst yourself, I will hold off on posting until you've decided a course of action - it may be easier to fire a few quick messages back and forth in discord and come to an agreement, as a thought, but if you want to play it out that's fine too)
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Arikarka
Approved
Linked Characters: Citrine, Gigi, and Rhia
Posts: 316
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Post by Arikarka on Jan 31, 2019 22:49:19 GMT
Since we all 3 aren't always on Discord at the same time, I'll sum up what would be suggested by Citrine. I'd love to RP it out, but it might take a bit longer than we want considering we have a lot of future in this thread still. *She'd stick to the idea walking is best - mostly due to Nakan's consideration for his size/weight *She'd describe a bit better the wild magic aspect of the sorcerer class. IC it is described as 'her magic being sentient and rather stubborn when she casts magic heavier than a cantrip - it's a strange relationship she has with her magic' *She's decent at survival, and if they find an inn or whatnot she can usually convince the owner to offer a room or at least pay a reduced rate - but she has zero problem camping under the stars, even in winter *She has no problem camping during the week travel it will take to get there *She can be decently stealthy, and has the ability to fly much faster than her walk (50 vs 25) so she'd make a point to state that in a pure walking basis? She'd slow the group a bit. *She doesn't really carry much with her, but she is more than willing to do physical labor/pulling her weight/not a stranger to doing physical labor *Doesn't currently have weapons either *Her overall ending suggestion will be to have everyone gather their supplies, take care of any business they might have hanging in town, and meet at the North Gate either in a few hours (if the current time is morning or afternoon) or first light (if it is later in the evening IC) Kai Wren for DM time-stamp statement OOC - I think it would be fun to have a few scenes of what their camp life is like during their week of heading North. It might take a bit of time still then to get to the bulk of the adventure, but this week gives them a chance to know about one another and be a better organized team when they finally get to the forest. Maybe even have a scene halfway through the 'week' where a *cough* totally random *cough* evening event could happen? As a baby combat? Unless of course our lovely DM wasn't planning on doing so... OR if he totally was, we can plan it a bit more despite it being a random encounter for storytelling-streamline pacing effect? Totally a suggestion only :3 Also Kai Wren - Citrine's morning preparation is right now a metamagic extended Mage Armor, so her AC for (8x2) 16 hours (so a usual standard adventure day through nightfall - but not night itself) is 16. I mark off one MM point and a spell slot - up to you when you'd like me to roll for the wild magic affect. I play it as nothing happens during the ritual unless I am RPing it out. If it's in the background? No affect. Let me know your call on it. |
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Post by Ossular on Feb 1, 2019 16:51:38 GMT
Just a quick note for what Aliester would suggest/offer:
- He'd agree that walking is best, but suggest that they at least travel with a caravan. Protection in numbers, ease of not needing to wear splint-mail the entire week plus trip.
- Aliester has a weapon/weapons that Citrine could use if she wanted. (Refer to the character sheet if interested.)
- He doesn't mind camping, regardless of the season.
- He wouldn't mind waiting until light to set out north, but is fine leaving earlier if agreed/needed.
I'd also be fine on the matter of the three getting to know each other during the travel north, even if it's just a single scene before we get to the forest. I'm down for whatever.
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