Storm King's Thunder [CLOSED]

[Ellywyck27]

Ruth stumps after the Captain. Good. Conversing behind a closed door, she can— ok. New plan.

She stands at attention and thumps her chest with both fists, the dwarven salute showing you hold no weapon.
“Ruthenia Ironfist, Lieutenant of the Foaming Tankard in the Clan Battlehammer. Permission to speak plainly, sir?”

Ruth has a feeling she will need to be careful. Ears could hear through that doorway. And the Captain seems in no mood to chat.

“The situation here is dire beyond imagining. Destruction and grief. Yet you uphold all protocol and regimen perfectly, though you also must be under a great deal of stress and anguish. I am sure you notice some of your men are not doing as well as you.”
Ruth pauses, drops her military stance and thoughtfully paces. All is calculated to put the Captain at ease and for her words to be perceived as non-threatening and agreeable.
“In my experience— she looks at Evermorven —I’ve never experienced this situation. How do you stay so true? What gives you hope?”

She waits for the Captain to feel and consider, then continues to the point.
“I see Torem asking: What are they holding the keep for, if there are now no villagers and no Lords to protect? Are there plans to rebuild or reconstruct? What does the future hold?
...Captain, sir, I recommend to you a plan. Any plan. Without anything to look forward to in the future, soldiers see only futility in continuing as if all were normal. They need to know why they labor. That will give all your men hope and renew their commitment to follow orders- to follow the good lead of their Captain- and to bring honor to the name of Nightstone.”
Well, she might have overdone it a bit with the last phrase. Few humans value honor like a dwarf. But maybe this one does.
She waits to see if her suggestion is agreeable to the Captain.

 

[ramonlimon2]

Aseir, left with nothing else to do, bounces back and forth on his feet a bit. He approaches the body after the other two have paid their respects and departed, and bows his head and closes his eyes for a moment. He then gives Kaelen a short nod and walks a respectable distance away, waiting in an imitation of parade rest.

He doesn't react at all to Torem returning.

 

[ZombWie]

Bell follows Shara to the table and stands beside a chair. Sitting in chairs is something he will only do if he has to. The flicker of light and flame causes the kenku to look at the candle with wide eyes. He has not been exposed to much magic, but practical spells such as this really appeal Bell. He cocks his head and repeats, "Ish Kabibble," followed by a nod of appreciation. He smiles awkwardly for a moment, then mimics the captain from earlier, "Landy Nandar's private library." then indicates with a tilt of his head toward the door. "...you're wanting to get... inside.." followed by a waggle of his eyebrow feathers.

 

[Baba Luga]

"My brother fought with Lord Harthos Zymorven in the last war," Evenmorven comments by way of establishing a bond. (Ruth knows the name, if not the man: a human knight, fairly advanced in years by human standard, with an estate not far from Mithral Hall.) She nods seriously at Ruthenia's council, seemingly happy to consider this a conversation between equals, though Ruth can see that as a commander this woman is entirely green, probably more adjutant material. She makes a few stabs at proposing a plan before simply asking, "So, Lieutenant, what would you do, in my place?"

Asked about the library, Shara says, "Obviously! I'd love to feast my peepers on whatever she has in there ... or, had in there ... or, is it actually has in there? I'm not sure which is right in this situation. But I've heard she was keen on natural philosophy, which is not bad stuff."

"I wonder what will happen to all those books. If there's really no young Mistress or Master Nandar, then it will probably be some distant relative or third party who buys this place, or has it granted to them by Mirabar. Most likely, that will be someone who doesn't care a whit about natural philosophy, and then all those lovely books are just wallpaper. Seems a shame..."

With a bit of a flourish, Torem folds his stripped-off chain shirt on a table and gathers up the accouterments he brought from the cellar. "Well," he declares, "I'm off to do some patching up. Be back when I'm back." With that, he strolls out the door of the keep.

With no one closer to share his thoughts with, Kaelen turns to Aseir and sorrowfully says, "She ought to be put it the crypt with Lord Nandar. That's the right thing here, not this." He gestures to the table. "This isn't worthy of her. She was a great woman," he trails off, lost in thought.

 

[ramonlimon2]

"Your nobles don't traditionally lie in state before being interred?" Aseir questions the grieving man.

 

[Ellywyck27]

Ruthenia listens patiently to Captain Evenmorven’s halting and unfinished stabs at proposing a plan, until she simply asks, “what would you do, in my place?"

Ruthenia picks up a few ideas the Captain has started, and puts them all together. “Yes. As you say, put Lady Nandar to rest, closing that chapter. Announce now this very moment that she has been properly grieved, and it is time to now look to the living. At the end of whatever ceremony is held, immediately announce your plan to strengthen and rebuild the keep, so that it is ready for any and all returning villagers. You can then request my friends and I to help rescue the villagers, perhaps with the help of the eager Torem?
Though I am not speaking for the others a promise to do so, I think we would at least be willing to help on the possibility we may retrieve our lost gear.

... How does your plan sound to you, sir?”

 

[ZombWie]

"I am not sure... What's... natural philosophy." Bell says with a shrug. "is it actually... not bad stuff..." He then looks around the great hall to see who might be watching and asks, "is it actually..." and he rubs two fingers together in the universal symbol of money. Hopefully, his question is clear enough. The kenku wants to know if the books are valuable. Shara's answer may give him some insight into her intentions.

With a quick motion Bell pulls a coin from his coin pouch and positions it on his thumb, ready to flip. Again he looks around the room then stares at Shara and points at his head then points at the table they are sharing as if to say, Heads, we stay here. Then he points at his tail and makes walking fingers across the table toward the library, Tails, we go take a look in the library. With a smile and a pause to make sure she understands Bell holds the coin in the ready position on his thumb.

 

[Baba Luga]

"I don't rightly know," says Kaelen to Aseir's question of protocol. "Lady Nandar was the only noble I've known. She was so kind to me. I just know that this isn't dignified." He places a hand on her forehead.

Over at the table near the wall, Shara tells Bell Damper, "You know, Natural Philosophy, like Monwood's Progress of Corpses with and without Local Dweomer, with special note on Necromatic Intrusion or Winian Slypipe on Derivation and Permutation of Chimeric Beasts; as well as Relations among the Same." Seeing that Bell does not, in fact, know these essential works, she explains that the field is concerned with investigating and explaining phenomena in the world of nature and the magical weave: the behavior of wild creatures, plants, minerals, weather, how magic works, whether a coin flip is really "leaving it up to Tymora" or is influenced by the position of the stars and time of day.

She smiles at Bell's larcenous insinuation, but says, "If she does have some rare books, I'm sure they're quite valuable, but if I had them, I'd just keep them to myself. You can't count on finding one of these things just anywhere, and who wants to trudge off to Candlekeep or Silverymoon every time you need to look something up? But no, it's too risky, and we still have the other thing to discuss."

Captain Evenmorven mulls over Ruthenia's plan for a bit before saying, "Ambitious, but rebuilding the keep is certainly not something we're capable of doing. We'll need help even figuring out who has authority to make such a decision. Getting word to Mirabar at the next opportunity is imperative. We're under their jurisdiction, after all. For the rest though, yes, that's how we'll proceed. Thank you."

Once Ruthenia has shared any other thoughts, the Captain escorts her back out of the library and shuts the door after them. She informs Kaelen that they will be interring Lady Nandar this evening, and tells him to get Alara. He accepts the order and goes upstairs, returning a few minutes later accompanied by a bruised woman with a dazed, far-off look about her. Kaelen remains inside with the body while Alara and Evenmorven go outside to see what Torem has gotten into.

With whatever help the five newcomers are willing to provide, the three guards stretch additional ropes across the gap and use them to guide over two long, upside-down dining table from the great hall that have been fastened together with boards. Once braced, the tables are nailed in place and present a serviceable temporary patch to the ramp.

After a short rest, the guards don their uniforms and carry Lady Nandar's body down to the hamlet, to the crypt behind the temple. The heavy lock on the crypt doors has been recently dented and scraped, probably by the hammer that lies in the dirt nearby—Torem mutters some aspersions against the goblin looters. Kaelen leads a brief, improvised ceremony to the dawn god Lathander, an apparent favorite of the Lady, and the body is placed carefully in her sarcophagus within, next to that of Lord Nandar. Another sarcophagus is engraved with the name Gustan Nandar.

Following the interment, the guards, again with whatever help the recent arrivals will provide, search the hamlet for survivors or casualties. There are none of the former, but a total of five dead villagers who were crushed by rocks or collapsing buildings. Their bodies are gathered in the temple, with the intention of burying them tomorrow. The guards mention that several of their colleagues also perished in the collapse of parts of the keep, and will need to be buried tomorrow as well.

The dead goblins are gathered together with the worg in the central square, doused with oil from the trading post and burned. Ruth and Aseir's swaddled goblin prisoner appears to have escaped during the time everyone was up at the keep; the sheet, twisted and rent, lies in the upstairs hallway of the inn, and the emptied contents of that goblin's sack down in the kitchen are short a few items, including several muffins. The bow and arrows she dropped are also missing. A further search of the hamlet eventually finds a rope tied to the top of the northwest watchtower, leading down to the river. From that vantage point it is also observed that the five goblins off on the moor have either departed or taken to hiding; they are no longer visible out there.

The three surviving horses are gathered up and moved inside the stable. Lecuis' horse, the one that was roaming free, has a minor wound that is easily treated. With that done, everyone is fairly exhausted and ready to retire to the barracks for the night. A separate area of the upstairs is partitioned of for the captain, and Torem is given the first watch from the top of the keep, leaving Alara and Kaelen behind with the Zhentarim, circus performers and Shara Breakwood.

Shara proposes using some minor magic to speed to drying of Ruthenia's damp items. This also serves as a pretext for getting herself, Ruth and Bell some privacy outside in the inner bailey, next to the well. She slips Bell a folded sheet of paper. "Those are the things I need," she says. "Tell me what you think." While Bell and Ruth consider the list, Shara spreads the dwarf's things out on the ground. Taking a rag she must have found in the barracks in hand, she points to each garment in turn, repeatedly chants something that sounds like "ale and rye, door meet oar, stye for eye, rabbit pie." After a while, still chanting, she starts wringing the rag over the well, releasing intermittent trickles of water. Ten minutes later, she's done, and Ruth's things are entirely dry.

"So," Shara says, massaging her knuckles, "can you get me all of that stuff?"

The list is full of rare minerals, several different gemstones, exotic wood, fine silks, a range of spices and even some live animals not native to this region. Ruth and Bell are each familiar with some of the items on the list, while there are others that neither has heard of. Still, they are confident that most of this stuff can be sourced through the ports of Luskan and Waterdeep or the Mines of Mirabar. Other things can come from the High Forest or Evermoors by way of Silverymoon and Everlund, while the most exotic items will have to travel from the East across the Anauroch desert, eventually making their way to Triboar. It's going to be expensive and take several weeks, assuming all these quantities are on-hand in the relevant cities. Any shortages will mean extra time and distance. While Bell's fiscal responsibilities don't usually extend beyond keeping caravan expenses to a minimum, there's clearly a lot of money to be made by the Zhentarim if Shara Breakwood is serious about this and able to pay.

 

[Ellywyck27]

It’s been such a long day. Ruthenia is ready to hit the sack and sleep past the rooster crow. But then Shara offered to help dry her armor, and Ruth took the golden opportunity to have a moment alone with the woman. She was glad Bell came too.

“Just don’t apply any heat. That dries out the natural oils in the leather, you know.” Shara seems to know about that, so Ruthenia looks over Bells shoulder at the looong list of items Shara wants to acquire.

Wood, silk, gems,... “I know some of these are spices and... are these two exotic animals? ... I believe it’s Rathas’ job to arrange it all.... Some of these will probably be difficult to find.”
After asking Bell about some of the items, Ruthenia looks to Shara, pleased with how her spell worked.
“May I ask, what is your plan for using all these things? Or are you hoping to do some trade in the higher circles of society? This will cost quite the sum, all together. Fellwell will want to know if you have the coin, and how you will be paying.”

 

[ZombWie]

Shara's rambling about books and magic and nature brings a vacant look to the face of the wagon driver. He simply responds with a slow shake of his head back and forth. His reaction to sneaking into the library is a bit of a walking back of his suggestion. "...no, it's too risky..." he mimics then gives a little rattling chuckle.

---

Bell follows along after Shara and Ruthenia outside. The kenku knows what is coming, so he subtly looks around to see who might be in earshot of the coming conversation. When Shara hands him the note he takes it and walks a few paces away toward the inner wall of the keep. He leans on the wall and waits for Ruthenia to join him. Scanning down the list, he lets out a slow, whistling sigh of amazement. The kenku looks to Ruth and gives a quick flare of the eyes to show that he is more than a little impressed with this shopping list.

When Shara returns, Bell allows Ruthenia to do most of the talking. He nods along affirming the dwarves words then confidently mimics back Shara's own words, "can... get... all of that."

As Ruthenia presses Shara about her reasons and means, Bell slips the list into his coin purse for safe keeping.

 

[Baba Luga]

Shara demurs at Ruth's direct questions about the purpose of these items, making reference to the Zhentarim's reputation for discretion and reliability. As to the likely cost, "That won't be a problem," she says. "Ideally, payment can be made in the form of certain antiquities and fine objets d'art, to be valued by an agreed-upon independent appraiser. Oh, and you should figure on delivery being to someplace on the periphery of the Evermoors—we'll hammer out the details later."

"I expect I'll head out from here to Mirabar tomorrow, and from there down to Longsaddle, where I plan on being through the end of the month and partway into next. If someone can meet me there with some quotes and a contract, I think we'll be ready to go. And if I have to move on before then, I'll certainly leave instructions with the local Zhent representative. Ooh, you should call them the reprezhentative!"

"Is there anything I've forgotten?"

 

[Theseiroth]

Lecuis watched everything. Taking mental notes for songs and stories. But now that it seemed like it was all calming down he sighs and raises his hand, "Can someone please just point me to a bed? I need to sleep before I pass out on my feet."

 

[Baba Luga]

III. A Traveler to Mirabar
Nightstone. Flamerule 18, 1491​

In the shared bunk room, the guards say prayers to Torm and Ilmater before retiring. The days are about as long as they're going to get, this far north and in the middle of the summer, and the sun is still on the horizon outside when everyone dozes off.

Come morning, Torem, Alara, Kaelen and the Captain are up early to begin burying their dead. Once you newcomers have performed your ablutions and are up and about, you seem to have free run of the small settlement. Shara Breakwood apparently woke hours ago and is speaking with Captain Evenmorven up in the keep's great hall when you find them.

"This woman has agreed to leave for Mirabar today," says the captain, "with word of the tragedy that has befallen us here. I do not know your circumstances, but if you are willing to give her one of your horses, I will compensate you with coin from the keep's treasury."

Taking Ruthenia aside, Captain Evenmorven says, "It's very troubling that none of the people of Nightstone have returned. Did you mean what you said about going out on the moor to look for them? Torem has some ideas of where they might have sought shelter, and he has volunteered to go with you. Whatever equipment you require from the armory would be at your disposal. Of course, there is no compulsion. You came here as travelers and owe us nothing."

 

[ZombWie]

Bell is quick to respond to the question of giving Shara a horse, "...willing to give her one..." he says with a resolute nod. That business settled, Bell walks to the wall to take advantage of the view of the village and the surrounding moor. He is certain that Ruthenia will want to track down the villagers as requested by Torem. He is not sure about the new recruits from the circus, but his gut tells him they will want to do the same. Bell's motivation is to gather what they can and head back to Luskan, mission complete. He just can't shake the thought that Rathas will be disappointed at a missed opportunity to get in good with the town of Nightstone. This rescue attempt may be the way that the Zhentarim get a foothold in Nightstone. The kenku considers the potential reputation boost this might give him and his three new travel companions in the Zhentarim organization. The wagon driver comes back to the present moment finds himself staring at the horizon in the direction of the goblin's escape.

 

[ramonlimon2]

Aseir, suspecting he knows why the captain wants to speak with Ruthenia, steps within earshot. Hearing what he expected, Aseir furrows his brow, starting to get upset by all the offers to stand by or to leave. "Leaving frightened people lost and in danger is unquestionably an act of evil. Even if it weren't, we are clearly in no rush, seeing as how our business has been dissolved. You do insult us."

 

[Ellywyck27]

Ruthenia is startled by the voice from above. She did not see Aseir coming close to listen. The unexpected makes her laugh, and his passion for righteousness adds joy to her response.
“Well, Captain, that’s the answer. We are indeed willing and even eager to help. We shall leave here in a moment if Torem is soon ready.”
Ruth turns to her three friends.
“Let’s gear up and do what we may to help find and rescue any and all villagers.”

 

[Baba Luga]

Shara thanks you graciously for the horse. Commenting that she'll likely be gone by the time you return from your search mission, she expresses hope that the Zhentarim will send Ruth and Bell to the meeting in Longsaddle next month. "And you two," she says to Lecuis and Aseir, "look me up if your circus makes it down there before Highsun's* over."

Torem puts on his armor, takes a spear and shortbow, and joins you at the front gate. The other guards lower the bridge and then raise it again behind you. Leaving the road and heading north along the river takes you over ground that alternates rocky patches with expanses of damp peat, but even without a proper trail it's quite clear where the fleeing villagers and horses passed two days ago. The grasses have yet to recover from where they were bent down by what Torem says would have been nearly 20 people. The route only strengthens Torem's conviction that Melvin's Bunion was their destination.

The uneven rocks and spongy peat make the going slow. It takes about ten minutes to walk the quarter mile to the trees near which the two groups of goblins passed each other yesterday—all that remains of the second group's vigil here are several footprints and some scattered seed shells. They seem to have traveled here and back in a slightly more northwesterly direction than the course of the more distinct track left by the people from Nightstone.

Past the few trees, the moorland west of the river is a remarkably undifferentiated expanse of dull yellow grass punctuated by rocky hills and drifting carrion birds. The air out in the open carries a damp chill and a fog rolling down from the north clouds the view more than another quarter mile ahead. Behind you, the walls of Nightstone already appear as if behind a gauze veil.

* The 8th month of the year, more formally known as Eleasis

 

[Ellywyck27]

It is slow going in her now dried leather boots, almost from the moment they leave the drawbridge until they pause 10 minutes later at the trees. As they come to the spot where the goblins had exchanged words the day before, Ruthenia pulls out her amulet and fingers it, turning back to see the town of Nightstone beginning to fade into the fog. She considers speaking a prayer for bravery, but instead murmurs a prayer for the sun to burn away the fog.

 

[ramonlimon2]

Aseir circles the goblins' campsite head down and nodding slightly to himself. Finally, he stands straight.

"Torem," he calls, "What else is out here that might provide shelter? How big is Melvin's Bunion?" Turning away from the man, Aseir gestures to the divergent trails. "The people fled in a rush, but haven't come back. Without any sort of supplies they're in deep trouble. But the goblin pack doesn't follow? Where are they going?"

 

[ZombWie]

Bell follows along as the group prepares to head out to bring the villagers home. He declines any additional equipment as he doesn't want to be any more in debt to the shopkeeper of the provisions store. He already borrowed some arrows and a length of rope. Bell would like to return to this Nightstone again in the future, so it is important to keep track of his debts. The kenku wonders for a minute what they might call the town in the future since the NIghtstone has been taken from the town square. This little hamlet is in for a few rough years.

Trudging through the moor is slow going as they follow the clear trail left by the villagers and their animals. When the rest of the group discusses which way to go, Bell stays out of the conversation. He is willing to follow either trail for his benefit or the villagers. Both paths lead to a pay off one way or another. He considers Torem and realizes that they will most likely need to follow the villagers for his sake. It is certainly the easier trail to follow, so Bell is content to follow along.

The moor provides little in the way of cover, but in spite of that Bell is constantly surveying the as they walk. He scrutinizes any area that could potentially be an ambush spot hiding goblins. At any sign of trouble, Bell will attempt to find a spot to hide. He is no hero after all.

 

[Baba Luga]

"Under the Bunion, it's a long, dry cave," Torem answers. "Once popular for picnics, trysts and such. Should be just about ... there," he says after locating a distant spot shrouded in fog. "Then you've got the Nostril, over a ways ... there." He points to another spot a bit west of where he's positioned the Bunion. "That's a nasty damp cave—unhealthy. You'll catch a fever there. Past that is Coppernut Ridge, just a long hill that runs in front of the Nixie Meadow."

 

[ramonlimon2]

"Are they separate caves? No underground networks?" Aseir frowns. "I'm worried that we're going to get to the Bunion and walk headfirst into something we're not prepared for, and have nobody left to rescue us."

 

[Baba Luga]

"Oh, the Bunion stands alone, at least so far as passages you or I, or even a goblin, could squeeze through. The Nostril's a different story. I couldn't say how deep it runs; maybe down to one of these networks as you call it."

 

[ZombWie]

Bell walks to the front of the group and tugs on Aseir's shirt to get his attention. The kenku pats himself in the chest, then points to his eyes with two fingers, "...something we're not prepared for..." he mimics. He is hoping that they understand that he will scout ahead to see if there are any surprises ahead. Bell starts to move forward in the direction that Torem indicates and as he does he reaffirms his intentions by holding his outstretched arm toward the group in the universal symbol for stay here.

 

[Baba Luga]

Bell spends the next twenty minutes keeping low and following the signs of the Nightstoners' irregular passage north through trampled grass and around the moister patches of peat. Swallows dart low over the ground and a curious fox briefly watches him from a distance before going on its way. Small stone cairns have been left as waymarkers along the route, replaced after about a quarter mile by stone posts that have begun to slowly sink into the peat at odd angles.

Having gone about a half mile from where he left the others, Bell sees the dark outline of a hill in the distance. The nearest waystone is engraved, "Lord Drezlin Nandar, 1438-1486." Given the unstable ground, it's more likely a memorial than a gravestone. With great caution, he continues forward until, another quarter mile ahead, he finds the low cave mouth at the base of the hill. The cave is as Torem described it. There is no one here, but clear signs that several people and horses were within the last couple of days. A few personal items remain behind: a hat, a backpack with some apples in it, a wooden flute, a spent torch. The area outside the cave is more disturbed, apparently the scene of some mayhem over a wider area. Two findings stand out: a crude, black-feathered arrow and a boulder with a powdery brown smudge on it. Some wood fragments are scattered on the ground around this big rock. It seems the stone was struck by a large wooden object.