9th World -- On the way to Southwatch (20 posts)

thread created on 9/29/14 at 18:20

On the way to Southwatch - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Re cook's theorizing - Re: Re cook's theorizing - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Cook's gather info - Smith's gather info - Winter Grove - Re: Winter Grove - Conversation with Kek - Re: Conversation with Kek - Cook's gather info in Redbush day 1 - Smith & Sir Freidrich Gustav

9thdm, 9/29/14 18:20
On the way to Southwatch

** Denotes material new to most recent update.

The party passes through Astermont to the port town of Thatcher's Bluff, where it splits: Cook and Smith catch a boat to Godfall while Chocobo and Kek go to the Northern Isle.

On the Northern Isle Kek makes his way to Driftwood, passing unnoticed through its night-time dangers to report to Calamestes on the accuracy of his information, who pays him the promised sum. Meanwhile Chocobo inquires after Elysium the blind astronomer at the Observatory, where he learns that there was indeed such a student in the Astronomy school. Found as a child, naked and unconscious on the shore during a storm, it is believed he was the victim of a shipwreck. Taken in and nursed back to health by the local fisherman who found him, the young boy proved to be blind and without memory of his prior life. Despite his handicap, the boy claimed to see the stars, and after a few years of fruitlessly trying to teach the lad his trade the fisherman turned him over to the Observatory, where he began his astronomical studies. Though he became quite knowledgeable at the Observatory, he was prompted to leave upon completion of his basic studies; apparently his understanding of the stars was blended with self-conceived mysticism, prophecy, and magic, all pursuits which the school frowns upon. That was four years ago, and the astronomers have not seen nor heard from him since.

In Graveside, Cook reviews the wealth of books and maps the party has stored there, while Smith makes use of Una's back room to weave magic into various items. Through further study and new first-hand experience, Cook discovers that the last king to hold the Asterthrone and rule over the combined Asterlands in its final days was in fact a giant and wizard, known now as a 'cloud' giant; this king was killed when the kingdoms fell into a bloody civil war which tore it asunder, and he went by the name of Xenophontes. Historically this war is blamed in equal parts upon Xenophontes's cruel, despotic rule and the intervention of the Arcane Confederacy. Cook also has it on some authority that the giant was known to lie to elementals.

Una recalls the legend of Xenophontes, and recounts it to Cook. Xenophontes and his brother Philokrates were the last scions of an ancient giantish kingdom, one that had faded even before the Second War broke the world. Both were obsessed with restoring to themself the wealth and power of their ancestors, and it was to this end that Xenophontes pursued the art of wizardry, while Philokrates pursued the arts of war.

In time Xenophontes became a powerful wizard with mastery over the souls of both the living and the dead, while Philokrates became a mighty warrior and master of a brood of fearsome hounds. When the Second War began, Xenophontes battled fiercely against the 8 Gods, while Philokrates allied with Sadis the Flesh-Eater, leading the God's forces in exchange for the secrets of blood magic. In the end, Xenophontes was crucial to the defeat of the 8 at the Isle of Martyrs and became a founding member of the Arcane Confederacy, while Philokrates died in the chaos of battle, eaten by his own terrible hounds.

Centuries later, Xenophontes became King of the Asterlands when the previous king died without an heir, due largely to his popularity and mystic knowledge of the workings of the Asterthrone. Once in power, however, he became more and more paranoid and despotic, separating himself from the Arcane Confederacy, his people from the Druidic Council, and the Asterlands from the ascendant Inner Kingdoms, fearing that whatever befell his royal ancestors would come for him as well.

Finally the Arcane Confederacy denounced him as a lunatic and a traitor, and his own people rose against him, the Astermen and the last of the giants laying siege to his mountain throne in a war which led to the loss of the Asterthrone and the sundering of the Asterlands into what would become the Eastern Monarchies.


Meanwhile Smith discovers that he has gained some mastery over the Dreamstone/Omnichalcum, able to transform it from its seemingly natural state as a lump of rock into a single masterwork item of his choice, and back again.

There is also talk around Graveside that the Grave itself seems to be undergoing some unusual changes this season, apparently displaying a mildly less ominous demeanor than it has historically. When viewed from the wall, the nearest bog trees look fairly tame; certainly not welcoming, but nor the disconcertingly twisted things they were when you entered scant months ago. No comment or explanation is forthcoming from the Druid posted by the entrance.

After meditating on the matter of who would be best to scry upon to further your investigation into the now disbanded party as Una requested, Smith's communion with Terra directs him towards Simeon Clay. Upon mentioning his divinatory intentions to Una, she has her youngest apprentice, Madge, sketch a likeness of the mercenary for him - apparently the maid has a keen memory for strapping men.

The first morning of scrying finds the mercenary, who wears a mithril breastplate, sparring in unarmed combat against an unarmored opponent. Clay seems both very strong and very nimble, somewhat similar to Cook in his movements, though Clay's seem more graceful and almost artistic compared to Cook's more efficient maneuvers. His training area is well-lit with a floor of dark, polished stone with no visible ceiling, but Smith doubts that it is outdoors.

Just before noon Clay is in a rather dank chamber of rough dark stone, where he sits on a stool next to a standing candelabra and very small table, the former providing light for Clay and a dim illumination of the room. On the table sit a sheaf of parchments, several quills, and two inkpots. Clay is situated in a corner of what appears to be a 15' square room, with an open door of heavy construction visible directly behind him. The trunk of a tree, about 3 feet thick and covered in green moss, lays on the floor to his left, pushed up against the wall and extending into the far corner across from him. That same wall has empty chains and manacles hanging from it. He appears to be having a conversation with someone and while he shuffles amongst the parchments and makes notes, you cannot see into the far corner across from him to discern whom he might be addressing.

The second day of observation yields similar results, except that his morning training session is done with an adamantine-bladed guisarme against multiple opponents at once; from Smith's description Cook is able to deduce that Clay possesses the Combat Reflexes feat.

From what he hears while scrying these first two days, Smith deduces that Clay has five students whom he is training in the ways of combat - he spars with these men every morning, practicing with unarmed and pole weapon fighting, both one on one and one against multiple opponents.

He also overhears the conversation in the cell, which seems a rather calm interrogation of the unseen subject, with Clay asking highly specific questions regarding a battle involving the forces of Asmodeus, mainly about troop dispositions, battle standards seen, and which forces fought each other. From the line of questioning, it seems that Clay is reconstructing the disposition of a very large battlefield.

The responses to his questions are answered by a very tired, almost confused voice, interspersed with jumbled, stream of consciousness murmurs; it seems obvious that the interviewee is not in a healthy mental state.

The third day of scrying, with Smith completing his first spell at noon, Simeon Clay resists Smith's attempt, thus thwarting any further scrying on him that day, as well as possibly alerting him to the fact that something is up.

The fourth day of scrying reveals Clay outdoors in the rain just after midday. He stands on rocky ground, speaking with a man clothed in sturdy traveller's clothes of grey and brown and armed with a long bow. Occassionally they point into the distance, almost always at a downward angle, leading Smith to believe they are standing on some vantage point at notably higher elevation than the surrounding terrain. They speak for several minutes, after which Clay begins walking, passing a bunch of barrels and casks stacked nearby before the spell ends. Smith's follow-up spell that day is resisted by Clay.

Clay's conversation with the man is about the disposition of his defenses where he holds the high ground; it seems he is considering an attempt to engineer a landslide to block a pass which allows access to him and his forces. It seems that Clay has an unknown number of men at his command, and his five students are merely his elite.

Day 5: Mid- afternoon. Clay is again in combat training; he is unarmed, fighting students armed with guisarmes one at a time, attempting to move adjacent to them without presenting a weakness in his defense through acrobatic movement. More often than not he is successful.

The follow-up scrying fails.

Day 6: Late afternoon; Clay stands at a large table (5' x 10') indoors in a large room (able to see only one wall behind him, no corners) seemingly lit by natural light augmented by candelabra on table. The table is covered in wooden blocks of various shapes, sizes, and colors. He has a sheaf of parchments which he seems to be consulting to place more blocks on the table. For the first time, Clay isn't wearing his armor.

The follow-up scrying fails.

Day 7: scrying fails.

Day 8: End of afternoon; Clay is once again training, in armor. Follow-up scrying fails.

Days 9-12: Scryings fail.

Days 13 & 14: Night, both dates. Clay is unarmored, and begins disrobing from what appear to be multiple layers of heavy clothes. He stands next to a hearth filled with a large roaring fire, and once down to his underthings, lays down in a nearby bed, where he closes his eyes and rests.

Late night, both dates; Clay is in the same bed, sleeping, covered in sheets and blankets, with fire about the size you'd expect if untended since his lying down.


Port Somber

Port Somber is a port town of around 1,200 people on the western coast of Southwatch. Cook believes it to be the third largest settlement in Southwatch, behind the town of Thistlebrook to the east and the somewhat central capitol city of Redbush.

Harbor officials wait at the docks, herding people coming onshore into a line which passes through a squat log cabin for "inspection". Wooden pallisades block any other egress from the docks, manned by a dozen bowmen. Inside the cabin are three grim-faced soldiers armed with spear and axe, who question you regarding your religious affiliations; after answering honestly you are allowed to pass. You note that these soldiers (bowmen included) wear different colors and heraldry than the harbor officials and the other soldiers/watchmen about the town. Cook recognizes their insignias as the crest of Count Thorgriff Baer.

Inquiring about Simeon Clay in the modest pubs and shops of Port Somber garners a slew of rumors and gossip: he is an Infernalist, or a half-giant, or a bandit, or a warrior monk, or a kidnapper-for-hire, or the leader of a goblin army, or an evil duplicate of the "true" Simeon Clay, or all of the above. The only thing most agree on is that he's causing enough problems somewhere in the east of the kingdom that he has a price on his head.

Two major roads provide a means of eastward travel, both of which eventually pass through Thistlebrook, the easternmost town of any note. The High Road passes through the city of Redbush and continues east near the border with Eslanda before cutting south towards Thistlebrook, and apparently passes by several small keeps. The Low Road is a more rural route used mainly by peasants and their tax collectors, passing through/by no notable settlements until it reaches Thistlebrook.

**
Redbush

The party leaves Port Somber the morning after their arrival, Smith driving the wagon pulled by two horses. The High Road proves to be in reasonable condition, a beaten track almost 15 feet wide, with wagon ruts shallow enough to prove some sort of regular maintenance.

The buildings of Port Somber quickly dwindle to alternating open farmland and light forest, thought in wooded areas the trees are cut back from the road 50 yards on either side. The terrain remains remarkably flat, and from the state of the farms you pass, it looks as though the soil is hard to work.

The trip to Redbush takes 7 days (100 miles), and you arrive in the late morning of the 7th day. You pass through several populated small villages (50 or less people) along the way, but they have little in the way of news or conversation; indeed, they seem quite suspicious of foreigners, and almost incredulous of Chocobo. You pass through even more abandoned villages, most seemingly uninhabited for decades. You also pass several trade caravans of modest size heading out to Port Somber; these talk briefly with you, but have no urgent or interesting news.

Redbush itself is refreshingly unrustic, though not as large or as modern as Astermont. Unpaved streets are lined with mostly wooden buildings in a variety of states of repair, with Stonewall Castle often visible, looming out from the center of the city. It's population of roughly 10,000 live without sewers or plumbing, resulting in a myriad of midsummer smells. Unlike the almost abandoned countryside, people are everywhere here, making travel by wagon slow.

There are several inns at the edge of the city should you wish to purchase rooms there and explore the city on foot. A few well-placed questions to guardsmen and innkeeps inform you that the city highlights include the Royal Gardens (viewable from afar for free, one gold to enter), the Parade Grounds (where one can often watch knights of the classic cavalry variety practicing for tourney and battle, if there isn't an actual event), the Eagle Market (where merchant caravans barter goods), and Stonewall Castle itself, which even from a distance does indeed look massive.

Let me know if you stay at city outskirts or in the city proper; also any gather info checks you'd like to make.


**FROM HERE we can try to do as much as possible before Saturday; maps will probably have to wait for in session. The above info is using Knowledge checks for local, nobility, and geography, Smith's relevant knowledges for his scrying, and everyone's diplomacy for gathering info about Clay at Port Somber. Please post any additional gather info checks you'd like to make other than on Clay, and if possible pick a road. I'm currently not worried about what specifically you have in the wagon, that can wait til Saturday. If you can decide upon a road by Thursday night, I can post up travel, arrival, and description of next major stop (either Redbush or Thistlebrook, depending on road chosen.)

Edited by: 9thdm on 11/7/14

cook, 9/29/14 19:41
Re: On the way to Southwatch

Xenophontes was the name from the
Quote:
Throughout the encounter, the elemental seemed to be be ranting on in a language unknown to me; Smith later informed me that it was cursing the name of one [some guy whose name is in Ed's other pants], who had betrayed it and trapped it, and how it would take its vengeance (interspersed with less-specific curses directed at us).
in http://www.aurumvorax.com/forumViewThread.php?threadID=53#post114 , right?

I will share this information with Smith, and ask if he has any idea what was going on with the eyeball orb attacking the giant-king, or possessing Smith, or preventing the giant-king from possessing Smith, or all of the above -- whatever the hell was going on there.

I don't suppose there was any mention of the rebels/usurpers/liberators making use of eyeball orb during their conflicts with that guy, was there? Or maybe just: more information about the rebels. It almost sounds like you are saying he was overthrown by the arcane confederacy, is that right?

Hmm... I think Cook will ask Una if she knows anything about this (Xenophontes, the last giant king, etc), or knows of any further references, has something in her library, etc.

Edited by: cook on 9/30/14

cook, 10/24/14 18:20
Re: On the way to Southwatch

Geographically... is the infernal hegemony adjacent to southwatch? And is Asmodeus the infernal hegemony guy? I am trying to get at: maybe we can guess where Clay is by looking at a map of the border between the inner kingdoms and the infernal hegemony (or maybe they only overlap in a small area, so he is probably there, or something) particularly if we happen to spot some landmark (a mountain or river or something in the background of one of the scries).

Edited by: cook on 10/24/14

9thdm, 10/25/14 21:01
Re: On the way to Southwatch

Quote:
Geographically... is the infernal hegemony adjacent to southwatch? And is Asmodeus the infernal hegemony guy?


No and yes. The Infernal Hegemony is west of the Western Wilds, which puts it on the opposite side of the Inner Sea from the Eastern Monarchies. It is, however, the nation that worships Asmodeus.

cook, 10/27/14 07:27
Re: On the way to Southwatch

Quote:
No and yes. The Infernal Hegemony is west of the Western Wilds, which puts it on the opposite side of the Inner Sea from the Eastern Monarchies. It is, however, the nation that worships Asmodeus.
Hmm... OK. Clay is running a mercenary company, right? We had been looking recently into "who is hiring up mercenaries"... maybe Clay is working for Cheval? If you took some armies out of the Hegemony and walked them around the north side of the inner sea, would you wind up in Cheval's northern wilderness? I guess that would be an unreasonably long march (through horrible jungle, etc). If you took boats from the Hegemony around the top (outer sea?) and landed near the monarchies, where would you be?

Edited by: cook on 10/27/14

9thdm, 10/27/14 15:56
Re cook's theorizing

Yes, a boat from the Hegemony could sail east across the Outer Seas and land north of Cheval.

I really gotta figure out how to get that map up on here. I may call you this week.

cook, 10/27/14 19:09
Re: Re cook's theorizing

Quote:
Yes, a boat from the Hegemony could sail east across the Outer Seas and land north of Cheval.
I bet that by having Smith scry him at sunrise and sunset (then a few minutes after, then a few minutes before) we can determine his approximate longitude and latitude (by comparing his sunrise and sunset times to ours).

Quote:
I really gotta figure out how to get that map up on here. I may call you this week.
You have to log in, then go to "view files" up at the top, upload new file... then if you want to embed it in a post you can "copy link location" do something like (without the spaces):
[ i m g ]http://www.aurumvorax.com/files/highspeech-map.jpg[/img]
I see how that could be considered cumbersome...i'll think about how it can be improved, sorry!

cook, 10/28/14 19:49
Re: On the way to Southwatch

Quote:
Days 9-12: Scryings fail.
If you find that you are consistently getting blocked, you could try scrying one of his students instead (or someone else who you had seen earlier, but who is in the same area).

cook, 11/5/14 06:11
Re: On the way to Southwatch

Can Cook tell, from watching him move around in darkness or something, of whether Clay has darkvision or blind-fight?
I am thinking that if it comes down to fighting this guy (I know that kind of thing rarely happens in D&D), we could try to negate AoO by use of e.g. darkness in dim light, or deeper darkness. Obviously it would work out better if we had darkvision on at the time, but it might be worth doing it even if we didn't.

9thdm, 11/5/14 13:31
Re: On the way to Southwatch

Quote:
Can Cook tell, from watching him move around in darkness or something, of whether Clay has darkvision or blind-fight?

No. Not only can Cook not see through Smith's spell, but Clay wasn't observed at all in the dark.

cook, 11/5/14 18:39
Re: On the way to Southwatch

Quote:
**FROM HERE we can try to do as much as possible before Saturday; maps will probably have to wait for in session. The above info is using Knowledge checks for local, nobility, and geography, Smith's relevant knowledges for his scrying, and everyone's diplomacy for gathering info about Clay at Port Somber. Please post any additional gather info checks you'd like to make other than on Clay, and if possible pick a road. I'm currently not worried about what specifically you have in the wagon, that can wait til Saturday. If you can decide upon a road by Thursday night, I can post up travel, arrival, and description of next major stop (either Redbush or Thistlebrook, depending on road chosen.)
Cook is tempted by the rural road, figuring it would offer a more scenic and leisurely journey, as well as more chances to wrestle bears and shit.
However, I think that we have a better chance to hear clues about what is going on, pick up news, etc, if we travel through the more populated area and stop at the settlements. Smith's actors probably traveled the more populous road as well, if they came this way. So, I think we should take the High Road.

I think Cook wants to make gather info checks about:
- what happened with the goblins in Thistlebrook
- monarchies' politics and large-scale goings-on, particularly around interactions between Eslanda, Southwatch, and Astermont
- what sorts of trouble is going on in the eastern regions of Southwatch (that Clay might be involved in, but without necessarily mentioning him)

Edited by: cook on 11/5/14

Dorgrim Kek, 11/5/14 21:31
Re: On the way to Southwatch

Although wrestling bears and shit sounds like fun.  But I agree we should take the High Road. There will be more than enough battles once we reach our destination. (But kek still want to check out stonefane. There are probably a lot of fun under that castle.)

9thdm, 11/6/14 12:10
Cook's gather info

The following is learned, and takes up the rest of Cook's day/evening.

Goblins
A Goblin King amassed an army and attacked Thistlebrook last summer, setting fire to the town and temporarily gaining control of the castle before being defeated.

Cook knows that common goblins are usually highly disorganized and prone to infighting, yet rarely a goblin possessed of both strength and charisma can manage to unite large numbers of them through intimidation and the promise of carnage and chaos. These are referred to as Goblin Kings, and often possess sorcerous blood.

Politics
Southwatch has recently increased border tolls and dock fees for all foreigners to fund their "defense of the Monarchies against the heathens of the Outer Kingdoms."

East
Sir Freidrich Gustav of Redbush has been dispatched to Lowbriar County by the King to find those responsible for the murder of several Druids and bring them to justice.

If no one else has any gather info topics up by 6 tonight, then I'll post your trip, starting the morning after your arrival and heading out to Redbush on the High Road.

9thdm, 11/6/14 21:20
Smith's gather info

Smith hears the following info, which takes him all day/evening as well.

Grave Mummers

The troupe passed through Port Somber at the beginning of summer as part of a larger carnival; they were starting a tour of the Monarchies, and planned on heading east through Redbush and Thistlebrook before heading north into Eslanda.

Nullers

Nobody has seen or heard of anyone matching the description of the nullers.

Druids

The Winter Grove, a Druidic holy site in the Hilly Woods just outside of Lowbriar County, was attacked last month, with all who were there either missing or dead.

John Smith, 11/6/14 21:32
Winter Grove

Any chance of stopping off to visit the grove?

9thdm, 11/7/14 08:46
Re: Winter Grove

Quote:
Any chance of stopping off to visit the grove?


Regarding this and other "we should stop by here on the way" ideas/questions: hopefully things will be much clearer on Saturday when there's a map to look at.

In brief, none of the locations mentioned are between Port Somber and Thistlebrook.

Edited by: 9thdm on 11/7/14

John Smith, 11/7/14 14:14
Conversation with Kek

Master Kek, during our travel time would you be so kind to discuss what magics you can cast and their effects so we can more effectively manage our party resources both in combat and traveling abroad?

Edited by: John Smith on 11/7/14

Dorgrim Kek, 11/7/14 14:45
Re: Conversation with Kek

Quote:
Master Kek, during our travel time would you be so kind to discuss what magics you can cast and their effects so we can more effectively manage our party resources both in combat and traveling abroad?


Mister smith, I am able to cast detect and read magic , touch of fatigue, message, Mage hand, penumbra, acid splash as cantrips.

as for first level, you are all familiar with shocking grasp and my mage armor. There is also chill touch, force quiet, magic missile. My bloodline has also given birth to cloak of Shadows which allows me to give a target bonus to stealth equal to half my level and ray of enfeeblement which causes 1 d 6 damage + a strength penalty half my level.

second level, spectral hand, protection from arrows, and scorching ray. bloodline ability is darkvision.

finally third level, fly and tongues. bloodline ability deeper darkness.

9thdm, 11/7/14 16:54
Cook's gather info in Redbush day 1

Abandoned villages
After the losses at sea suffered by Southwatch during the Two Isles War, the Count of Seabriar at the time conscripted a significant portion of his serfs into the navy as sailors and ancillary workers, leaving much of the county's none-too-fertile farmland abandoned.

East
Just the news about Sir Freidrich Gustav already received. However, as you ask around at the Parade Grounds, you learn that Sir Gustav is quite famous locally and well respected, despite his low status of bastard to a minor noble house. Apparently he is an excellent horseman and quite charismatic, and is rarely seen without Braxicor, his trusty hobgoblin servant/second.

9thdm, 11/10/14 21:23
Smith & Sir Freidrich Gustav

When Smith shakes the hand of Sir Gustav and attempts to understand the man's nature, he learns that Freidrich is a native outsider of some kind - a creature of the 9th world, but also a part of one of the Outer Worlds in some way. He also senses that the man is somehow shrouded from his intuition, most likely through some magical means.

On the way to Southwatch - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Re cook's theorizing - Re: Re cook's theorizing - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Re: On the way to Southwatch - Cook's gather info - Smith's gather info - Winter Grove - Re: Winter Grove - Conversation with Kek - Re: Conversation with Kek - Cook's gather info in Redbush day 1 - Smith & Sir Freidrich Gustav