Book Two: Chapter Six: "Prosperous Hosts"

Malazek wrote:OOC: The catacombs are mostly contained to the same district as the temple. They might stretch out enough to just reach the neighboring districts, but they certianly don't reach THIS far (the catacombs don't cross any riverd).

So ...

Davin returns to the wagon and the party agrees to avoid the gate. So, the wagon turns from it's current path and seeks another way through the city. Davin returns to the roofs to direct the wagon's progress.

The wagon is forced to weave through the streets and alleys, using buildings and ruins for cover, in it's endeavor to avoid the patrols. More than once, the party needs to backtrack and change course.

Further west, as the wagon is crossing another bridge, Davin gets close enough to see that the next district gate is equally manned.

So, yet another route? The wagon back ups and continues on, seeking a clearer way through. Again, Davin directs from the rooftops, and the wagon is only barely able to avoid the wandering patrols. A larger base of Dwarfs forces the wagon even further out of it's way, but eventually it manages to get around it.

Just past another bridge, the wagon approaches the district wall again. Davin scouts from above, and again finds the gate manned by many guards.

OOC: Yet another route maybe? Maybe a different kind of route? The catacombs was a cool idea, but they don't reach this far. The sewers could serve the same purpose here, but last time you checked, the Dwarves were using the sewers for that very same reason. Got any other ideas? You can't avoid patrols forever.

Halcyon wrote:OCC: Have we passed an inconspicuous place to cross the river? Or does the map show a likely spot?
Verity will aid any required rolls - Perception: 10

Swifthand wrote:

Halcyon wrote:OCC: Have we passed an inconspicuous place to cross the river? Or does the map show a likely spot?
Verity will aid any required rolls - Perception: 10

O.O.C. - I just thought of using the river as well.

"Wait - Vangg, move over, I have an idea."

Davin jumps back up onto the bench and goads the team on, directly to the river (though still doing his best to avoid patrols). When the wagon gets there, he moves it out onto the water and uses the river as a highway, navigating the various channels that lead to the temple district. Once the party is closest to the Temple and out of eyesight, we finish crossing.

Take 10 on Nature (30), Perception (33), and Stealth (30).

-Swift

Malazek wrote:The horses pull the wagon off the street and into the river. Though the horses are unaffected by the current, the wagon is not; the team quickly runs downstream as the river pushes the wagon along behind them. The trip takes the party under several bridges and walls; a few Dwarves are seen overhead and on the banks, but they are unable to do anything about the floating wagon being pulled over-water by such majestic steeds.

Straegis checks the maps to see which tributaries and channels would be best for this journey. Following those directions, Davin leads the team through a few easy turns, and before long the wagon is heading upstream. Now, the pace is slowed somewhat, as the current pushes against the wagon/boat; but the horses have no trouble walking over the surface, and are able to maintain a brisk gate.

Within the hour, the party is able to leave the waterways, pulling the wagon into the streets just a few blocks from the Temple. No Dwarves here! The heroes reach the Temple of the Raven Queen in short order.

macksgarageusa wrote:O.O.C.: Let's get rid of Bridget Stank-o-mane and locate the oracle. Is the temple relatively unguarded? Is that strange?

DM EDIT: It wasn't guarded last time either. The nearby gate was, but you guys bypassed that by travelling on the river.

Halcyon wrote:Once the wagon rolls up, Verity approaches the High Temple of the Raven Queen.
He knocks heavily at the massive door.
He mutters a short prayer when they are granted entry. If the Oracle is not present he'll approach the doors beyond the apse and wait a moment, assuming she has anticipated this visit.

Malazek wrote:As soon as the heroes enter, Verity sees the same priest that tried to deny him admittance weeks earlier; the young clergyman hurries toward the back of the church as soon as he sees the knight apprach. Moments later, the Primus Inter Pares emerges and waves the heroes over ... her attention clearly focused on Verity and Vangg.

Halcyon wrote:Verity kneels and bows deep to kiss the hem of the Oracle’s robe.
“Holy Primus, just as we destroyed the Wise Stone revered by the sons of Moradin, the Queen sent us another quest: to find the Great Rihn.
“We slew on the dwarf hero Birgit Sallowmane. Later we found the Great Rihn’s holy symbol amongst her belongings.
“We ask that you force her corpse to give up what secrets she knew of Rihn’s fate.”
If she complies, Verity thanks her adding, "A suitable first question would get right to the point. Something like; 'What do you know of the fate of the Ogre Preist of the Raven Queen who's holy symbol you locked away.'"

Malazek wrote:"Yes, 'to find the Great Rinh' ... then it must be WoeVangg Rinh (once son o' WoeGhar Diijungghar) who has accompanied you here. It is an honor to meet you," the Oracle says to Vangg.

The other priests bring out the necessary components and the Oracle begins the ceremony, with Sallowmane's body in the center. Ten minutes later, the body begins to stir. "'What do you know of the fate of the Ogre Priest of the Raven Queen who's holy symbol you locked away."

Sallowmane's body mutters, barely audible, "He has been caged and brought to the Saga."

OOC: You get two more questions.

OOC: Is this first time Vangg has been in an "official" church of the Queen? If so, what is his reaction? Didn't the Great Rinh teach him rather subversive lessons?

Passive Insight: Vangg can tell that the Oracle has a great deal of respect for him, and she speaks the name of Rinh with an equal amount of respect. Is that odd?

151prooftattoos wrote:Vangg kneels and bows his head as he peers into the eyes of the Oracle.

"Dearest Oracle, be it be da Queen's wills . . . us 'ave traveleth far an' wides . . . for an' answers . . . but me hath dawneth an' newright revelations . . . dat what me bespeaketh meanest nots . . . me nigh need ta impress ye w' wisetongues an' what nots . . . ye knoweth whathaps we seek an' needs . . . me shuts me mouth an steps asideways ta 'ear what ye 'as ta sayeths in 'umblenesses. Ye can summon da Great Rinh if'n it be ye will."

Vangg's glare intensifies.

"However, if thou need me to humble myself further . . . and speak in a way that thou seem fit . . . so be it. What is thy will Oracle? Share the secret that you hold so deep . . . "

The dwarf's smile glows.

Swifthand wrote:Davin stays outside, with Hound, guarding the wagon against any bearded entanglements.

-Swift

macksgarageusa wrote:Straegis removes his helm and lowers his head slightly in a show of respect to his allies and their practices. He doesn't know any more about it than what Verity and Vangg have told him during the journey. He is grateful that they are his friends and knows full well he would not be alive now if it weren't for them, their prayers and their beliefs. He whispers, "Verity, can we ask the Oracle about our transformation of the wise stone? Perhaps a question regarding the wisdom of our own decision, or the perceived outcome of our actions, or something???"

Halcyon wrote:A mixture of relief and shock washes over the Paladin: Truly Rihn and his adopted disciples are most favored by Death, to have all survived the Temple Massacre.
In response to Straegis Verity nods agreement.
“Indeed we may learn more here than how to save the Great Rihn.”
It occurs to him then that Rihn may have been killed after questioning by the Dwarf King. Still, he can’t waste a question to know; Rihn must be found either way.
He turns back to the grotesque, bloated corpse of Sallowmane on the table before him and asks, “How would one best get safely past that which guards Rihn now?”

Malazek wrote:

Vangg wrote:Vangg kneels ... "Dearest Oracle, ... Ye can summon da Great Rinh if'n it be ye will."

"If Sallowmane is to believed, then the Great Rinh is still alive."

Verity wrote:“How would one best get safely past that which guards Rihn now?”

Question #2: "Foes are never safe, when they approach Njörðr VIII. If the Saga wishes it, only then can one approach ..."

Vangg wrote:"What is thy will Oracle? Share the secret that you hold so deep . . . "

"My will is irrelevent; I am but the mouthpiece of that which the Queen wishes to make known to me ... but you, Vangg of the Cave Temple, have yet a greater destiny."

Halcyon wrote:The Deathknight reasons out the predicament aloud, pacing, brow furrowed in concentration.
"So the first answer tells us that the Dwarf King took Rihn as a prisoner of war. The second confirms that Rihn still lives and is imprisoned in the Saga's halls. Also it confirms what I feared; that we cannot simply take Rihn back. It's one thing to surprise a handful of dwarf guardsmen at a border outpost. It's quite another to fight deep into the core of the Dwarf King's defenses within his very halls.
"No, if we are to retrieve the Great Rihn quickly, we must find another way."
Verity considers a moment, then asks Sallowmane, "What is the least bounty - the person, item or task we might most readily acquire or achieve - which The Saga would trade in return for Rihn's freedom?"

Malazek wrote:

Verity wrote:Verity considers a moment, then asks Sallowmane, "What is the least bounty - the person, item or task we might most readily acquire or achieve - which The Saga would trade in return for Rihn's freedom?"

"I do not know. Perhaps you should ask him?" And with that rather dissappointing answer, Sallowmane's body returns to a lifeless state.

151prooftattoos wrote:

Oracle wrote:"My will is irrelevent; I am but the mouthpiece of that which the Queen wishes to make known to me ... but you, Vangg of the Cave Temple, have yet a greater destiny."

"What ye meanest Oracle? What be me destinies ta fulfills?

Malazek wrote:

Vangg wrote:"What ye meanest Oracle? What be me destinies ta fulfills?

"You are to lead many brethren. More than that, I cannot say."

Halcyon wrote:

Sallowmane wrote:"I do not know. Perhaps you should ask him?"

"I never did like her.

"Thank you again, Oracle, for your ritual magic. If there is anything you would have of us you need but to ask. If no we must beg our leave, hasty though it be. We must yet see the Emperor before the day is through."

Once that's sorted Verity goes to the altar of the Queen and prays for guidance before the group departs.

Swifthand wrote:As soon as the group leaves the Temple, the keen-eyed Ranger jumps onto the teamster bench, ready to depart.

"HYAA!"

"So, what did she say?"

Davin heads to the Palace, using the water channels at every opportunity (same deal as last time), unless Thaddeus Crane's would make more sense.

-Swift

magicspellz12 wrote:Alex waits outside with Davin to protect the wagon. He lifts his head from his spellbook as the group emerge and listens intently as they explain.

Malazek wrote:So, the wagon rolls back to the river and out onto the water. The waterways carry the wagon through the city, until the heroes eventually reach the Three Hills District.

Here, the wagon is set upon and surrounded by the Imperial Navy. When the sailors recognize the heroes, they eagerly escort them to the Three Lion's District. From the docks to the barracks, the number of escorts grows exponetially as the troops happily walk with the heroes toward the destination.

At Ferrall's original headquarters, the heroes meet up with the Emperor, as well as a few other old friends: General Darnell Velius (formerly, the Lt. Col.), Uncle Veridic, Alverdine, Nissa, Captain Hawkes, Bluto Rexus, and Aodhan Blas ... as well as many other familiar (but nameless) faces.

"Welcome back and congratulations on a job well-done. I knew we could count on you!"

The crowd errupts into a symphony of cheers and applause.

macksgarageusa wrote:Straegis keeps one eye on the watery road ahead and one eye on the maps. He shouts out turn by turn directions to Davin and tries to keep them on the most direct path to their rendezvous with the human armies.
Straegis replies, "Thank you sir, how go the battles on the front lines?" He steps forward and uncharacteristically hugs Alverdine and Nissa, "Glad to see you're both still here!" After some small talk, he says to the general "We will need to meet with the Imperial Mage Corps as soon as practical."

Malazek wrote:

Straegis wrote:Straegis replies, "Thank you sir, how go the battles on the front lines?"

"Excellent, thanks to all of you. We had been holding ground, as planned, but once we got word that your mission was a success, we began putting pressure on the Dwarves, forcing them back and trying to reclaim our precious city. Dwarves are infamously difficult to rootout once they've dug in, but it's clear that they are no longer on the offensive. It's just a matter of time, now."

Straegis wrote:He steps forward and uncharacteristically hugs Alverdine and Nissa, "Glad to see you're both still here!"

Alverdine seems somewhat bewildered by the gesture, but awkwardly returns the affection. Nissa, on the other hand, returns a heartful embrace, as if such behavior is commonplace.

Straegis wrote:After some small talk, he says to the general "We will need to meet with the Imperial Mage Corps as soon as practical."

"We can do so, now, if you please ... but who, exactly, do you need to meet with? The entire core? The top officers? ..."

macksgarageusa wrote:Straegis turns his attention to the Emperor, "Perhaps a better idea. If you would, send one of your fastest messengers to retrieve the top officers of the mage corps. We are here to deliver a copy of our nexus elemental transfer ritual to you. I assume it would be most beneficial to explain it in the presence of your corps officers. We will wait for them if you like but we are all hungry, and could use some ale!"