Author Topic: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)  (Read 38684 times)

Offline Raineh Daze

  • Epic Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 10577
  • hi
    • View Profile
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #60 on: January 27, 2018, 08:05:15 AM »
Whether or not they were noticed was largely immaterial--Magiries dismounted from the bay horse, walking over towards the stranded merchant. "Might we be able to assist you?"

(click to show/hide)

Offline Nanshork

  • Homebrew Reviewer
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 13393
    • View Profile
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #61 on: January 27, 2018, 11:42:24 AM »
Gilfron looks wary, being approached by a group of armed travelers will do that to a man.  He makes a decision easily enough however.

"Yes, your help would be much appreciated."

You see that his wagon is filled with axes, saws, pulleys, and other tools useful in working lumber.  You might be able to rig a temporary repair as there are many trees around.

(click to show/hide)

Offline Raineh Daze

  • Epic Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 10577
  • hi
    • View Profile
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #62 on: January 27, 2018, 12:04:14 PM »
(click to show/hide)

Offline oslecamo

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10080
  • Creating monsters for my Realm of Darkness
    • View Profile
    • Oslecamo's Custom Library (my homebrew)
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #63 on: January 28, 2018, 12:19:44 AM »
Enar, seeing her fellow paladin struggle with the work, dismounts and tries to help:
I don't know a lot about wagons but I've made my fair share of ship repairs, and they're both made of wood. When something breaks down in the middle of the sea, we need to rig something fast or drown.


They couldn't really afford to spend much time here, but leaving innocents stranded in the middle of the road simply wasn't an option.

(click to show/hide)

Offline SorO_Lost

  • Epic Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 7197
  • Banned
    • View Profile
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #64 on: January 28, 2018, 11:49:05 AM »
Teferi isn't sure what he can do to help, but if holding a cart up will do it he... Probably shouldn't be the one holding it.

(click to show/hide)
« Last Edit: January 28, 2018, 04:03:14 PM by SorO_Lost »

Offline Nanshork

  • Homebrew Reviewer
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 13393
    • View Profile
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #65 on: January 28, 2018, 04:35:20 PM »
The three of you working together (but mostly the two paladins) managed to rig up a temporary repair to the wagon's axle that will see the wagon back to Phlan.

"Thank you for all of your help.  I am Gilfron, and this is my son Gilmont," the merchant says.

"Please, will you join us for dinner?  It is the least we can do."

Offline Archon

  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 334
    • View Profile
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #66 on: January 28, 2018, 09:23:07 PM »
(Having done none of the work, and spent the time reading a book - not that Aval could have helped)

"You would be too kind, but I'm sure we would be delighted."

He Turns to his party members;

"Unless you feel our quest is so urgent that we must continue immediately."

Offline Raineh Daze

  • Epic Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 10577
  • hi
    • View Profile
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #67 on: January 29, 2018, 06:29:48 AM »
"Magiries Hawklight, and this is Enar Moreira, Barrin von Teferi, and Aval Finchley. I would be glad to join you for dinner," the spear-wielding paladin stated. As much as riding ahead would bring themselves a step closer to scouting in the morning, she knew better than to pass up a meal--you never knew the next time you'd be getting a decent one in a situation like this. With conditions as they were, too, how could they simply leave a merchant alone on a road at night? Any number of things--including the undead they hunted--could crawl out of the woodwork.

Offline Archon

  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 334
    • View Profile
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #68 on: January 29, 2018, 07:03:48 AM »
"So we get to stay?" Aval mutters hesitantly. After a moment, he decides to roll with it.

"Capital! I am glad for the break. I haven't done this much riding since school. Except, that time ... but this not the time nor place for that. "

He sets about helping with fire-building and other such sundries as are needed, if nothing else comes up.

Offline Nanshork

  • Homebrew Reviewer
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 13393
    • View Profile
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #69 on: January 29, 2018, 09:18:42 PM »
Aval's offer of help is kindly rejected and as he sits near the fire he can see that Gilmont is already preparing dinner.

At Magiries' introduction the merchant obviously decides to become more formal.  "We are the Milon's.  I own a handful of wagons and leading caravans that trade all along the coast of the Moonsea.  So what brings you travelers out this way so late?  You can obviously take care of yourselves, but the road can be a dangerous place at night."

Offline oslecamo

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10080
  • Creating monsters for my Realm of Darkness
    • View Profile
    • Oslecamo's Custom Library (my homebrew)
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #70 on: February 04, 2018, 01:56:30 AM »

My name is Enar Moreira and we'll gladly accept your offer of hospitality.

We have an important mission urging our speed. There have been a series of attacks along the nearby coast. Do not panic, but all reports we got so far point out to the foul undead being responsible, a ghost ship. They seem to be following a set pattern and thus we hope to be able to evacuate the area that will be their next target, then check out with our own eyes their nature.

And what do you mean this road not being safe at night? I suppose that if your wagon hadn't broken, you expected to have made it to the city before nightfall? Are night bandits or some other nocturnal threat a common ocurrence around here?

I'm a bit surprised somebody wealthy enough to own several wagons and caravans would not hire an escort for their own persona.

« Last Edit: February 04, 2018, 01:58:26 AM by oslecamo »

Offline Nanshork

  • Homebrew Reviewer
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 13393
    • View Profile
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #71 on: February 04, 2018, 07:49:30 PM »
Gilmont starts serving roast duck to everyone while his father responds.

"Recently I have seen a lot of raided villages and homes.  At the village just two days away I saw the ruins still smoldering like all the others.  I do not know anything about a 'ghost ship', we've avoided going into any of the ruins in case the raiders were still around."

As for evacuating, the only sign of civilization that we've seen was the island ferry about a day back.  Those fisher folk have been there for longer than I can remember.

The road isn't safe at night because it is the main road.  Wild animals, bandits, thugs.  You four might not encounter these things armed as you are but normal travelers have to be wary.

As for hiring guards, that would be too expensive.  Hiring enough guards to offer meaningful protection would mean selling wagons.  Selling wagons would mean less profit, less profit would mean giving all of the money that I make to the guards.  Look at what is in my wagon, I'm not hauling jewels.  I'm more concerned for my life than my goods."

Offline oslecamo

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10080
  • Creating monsters for my Realm of Darkness
    • View Profile
    • Oslecamo's Custom Library (my homebrew)
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #72 on: February 04, 2018, 08:52:59 PM »

I see. I'm not that experienced in matters of money and even less on land based commerce so I thank you for the explanation. A merchant vessel with a skilled crew can outmaneuver pirates and sea monsters even if they have little fighting power, but in a road you could just abandon a slow wagon and run if things get too dangerous.

And I should've guessed a main road would attract bandits and thugs just like the main sea routes attract pirates and corsairs. When this is over I need to send a letter about starting patrols on both the land and waters of this region. Even if there's an initial cost, it would make things easier for everybody, including merchants such as you, there would be more trade and thus more profit, and in the end even the higher ups would prosper more. But right now we have to do the best we can on our own. Those ruins you saw are a sad confirmation of the troubles this region faces...

Ah, that reminds me. We have a map of the region with us. Could you point to us the position of that fishing village you mentioned? It'll probably be the target of the next raid and it will save us precious time if we don't need to blindly search the area.

Enar searches around for the map the party acquired and places it open in front of the merchant before sitting down to start on her meal, noticing she's kinda starving.

This duck is really good! Traveling on land may be more tiring, but at least we also get to eat better.

Offline Nanshork

  • Homebrew Reviewer
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 13393
    • View Profile
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #73 on: February 04, 2018, 08:59:51 PM »
Pointing out the rough area where the ferry can be found Gilfron says, "Follow the road to here.  There you will see the island ferry.

The fisher folk have always been a strange and isolated lot who don't much mix with others, but I spoke with the boatman and loosened his tongue with some supplies to repair his ferry.  The boatman said he was more worried about the storm coming in the next day or so than we was about any rumors of a dracolich haunting the area.

After all, in Stormy By storms coming in off the sea are all too common.  Undead dragons are not."

Offline SorO_Lost

  • Epic Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 7197
  • Banned
    • View Profile
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #74 on: February 05, 2018, 01:59:11 PM »
"So this "dracolich", has anyone given a decent description?"

Offline oslecamo

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10080
  • Creating monsters for my Realm of Darkness
    • View Profile
    • Oslecamo's Custom Library (my homebrew)
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #75 on: February 05, 2018, 07:01:07 PM »

Hmmm, from who exactly did you hear any rumors about a dracolich? We just found one survivor from the attacks, and you appear to only have seen ruins besides Stormy By, which wasn't attacked yet. Have the local fishermen seen something suspicious when going to sea?


Offline Nanshork

  • Homebrew Reviewer
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 13393
    • View Profile
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #76 on: February 05, 2018, 07:11:25 PM »
"I heard it from the boatman of course.  I inquired further as to why he mentioned it, but he just said that there has been a plague lately of those with fragile minds spouting such tales.  In fact his island village sheltered one such soul who had wandered to the ferry stop two days ago.

The man had seen something that made him lose his mind and spout on about the 'eyes of the dracolich' watching him wherever he goes.  The boatman felt that the vagrant was clearly weak and confused."

Offline Archon

  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 334
    • View Profile
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #77 on: February 06, 2018, 03:27:27 AM »
"Hmm. Was this man [description of the madman I talked to earlier]? If the rumours are entirely from one man, it might reduce their validity. It also occurs to me that "The Eyes of the Dracolich" might refer to an artefact or technique, rather than a literal Dracolich. "

Offline SorO_Lost

  • Epic Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 7197
  • Banned
    • View Profile
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #78 on: February 06, 2018, 10:49:35 AM »
"Like some kind of warbanner for a band of Kobolds?"
« Last Edit: February 06, 2018, 02:37:50 PM by SorO_Lost »

Offline Nanshork

  • Homebrew Reviewer
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 13393
    • View Profile
Re: Coastal Troubles (IC Thread)
« Reply #79 on: February 06, 2018, 01:57:34 PM »
"I know nothing of what the madman looked like, I only spoke with the boatman and he did not mention that.

Whatever it is, I'm happy to stay away from it if it is driving men mad."