2nd of Reaping - High Summer
The meeting at BlackRunes HQ.
A bland long narrow room, windowless. Two doors facing each other. A row of chairs along the one wall facing the 2nd door flanked by 2 heavily armed BR dwarves. Wearing what appear to be ebony face-like black masks. After waiting for what feels like an eternity, about close to an hour.
Kantif mumbles to Doc and Graxxuzazz these primary unit guarding BR elite or HQs. Called the Centurion. Supposedly numbers only 100 at any given time.
Once the party divests themselves of magic and weapons, the Centurion holds up a small loop and appears to scan party [detect magic]. The dwarf nods to the other. The 2nd Centurion unlocks and open the door and a long hallway stretches out of view. Multiple doors on both left and right.
The 2nd Centurion motions and says "Follow me." Walking, they pass by probably over 30 small doors.
Coming up to another non-descript door on right, the Centurion opens without knocking or waiting. Motions party in.
The 3 adventurers see a small room, windowless - only the one door. A globe of light slightly greenish hangs above the small desk, a plain wooden chair is occupied, with two more small chairs facing. The occupied chair has what appears to be a BlackRune dwarf in black robes. An insignia on his chest - right side - of the BR emblem with a crossed quill and scepter. He has long black hair neatly and tightly pulled back in a pony tail. Dark brown eyes behind silver glasses with small round lenses stay focused on a large stack of papers with only the sound of his quill scratching across parchment.
Without looking up, his distracted voice says in a monotone:
"Have a seat citizens. I will be with you.. Soon".
The click of the door closing behind, the Centurion presumably heading back to the waiting room.
The dwarf ignores the party until finally finishing his writing, he carefully and neatly puts it aside. Now, giving full attention to the Fellowship, he states,
"Greetings, citizens. I am Lower-Sub-Commander 2nd grade Axibahn Creinteros Trentis." He emphasizes "2nd grade" as if with pride.
Taking up a quill, the dwarf pulls out a yellow card and dipping the quill, says, "Citizens, please provide name and place of origin." scribing down these details, if true or not, will set the card in front of him, noting each of the Fellowship - Graxxuzzazz goes through his LONG list of titles, and the dwarf appears to be able to note them all down! After a few more entries the dwarf looks satisfied, then once completed carefully puts quill down. Looks at the heroes with a raised eyebrow and says, "so what can the BlackRunes do for you today, citizens?"
The trio - at first seem interested in why they are called 'citizens', but quickly move on to the real reason to be there. After producing the BlackRune passes given to them by the Commander of the GreySkulls mercenary crew, ask to have access to the rumoured teleportation circle located in the former palace.
Requesting to see the passes, the dwarf looks skeptical. Studying them closely with a magnifying glass, takes out a small vial and opens it, letting a single drop of black liquid on the back of each copper inlaid pass. Waiting, he hums quietly to himself. He then looks at the passes again, with a sniff and with a somewhat dismissive gesture, places them before him.
The minor bureaucrat in the BR Administrative Yellow Tier, LSC2 Trentis responds following BlackRune policy and rules to the LETTER.
"These passes you were given? They ahem.. " - the LSC2 advises - "may be good in the field but in the BR-EHQ..? It is no better than a cup of salty water to a fisherman. In Wayberry they allowed access to 2nd tier. But here..". The dwarf shakes his head and continues, "they allow entry to the city but other than that, are worth little more than the copper created from."
With a bland smile, the dwarf thumbs through a large stack of forms, pulling out a small bundle probably 15 pages of parchment attached with a black-ring in one corner.
"You will be required to fill out - in triplicate - Form 19.x2.4.Delirn version, sections A through J. Ensure to NOT fill out 'K' or it will invalidate the whole application and you will have to start over."
Pushing the forms over to the Fellowship, the dwarf continues,
"Once completed, return all 3 forms to BRHQ. Ask for a LSC3 [Lower Sub-Commander 3rd grade] who will take for processing. Expect a response within 5-10 days. We will find your at the Inn - Azuul's Rest?" Doc and Graxxuzazz agree to this.
"Now," standing up, the bureaucrat rings a small bell. "I have much work to do, is there anything else I can assist you with, Citizens?" he does not look very eager to help.
The Centurion opens the door and waits for party to exit and escort to waiting room to gather their belongings - which do appear to be all there.
The young bored human is still there. He starts as if coming out of a daze, at the Fellowship's entry and then sits back with a heavy sigh.
The trio leave as they came meeting up with their friends later.
***
Meanwhile.. sitting in the Red Pumpkin Tavern. Tibaltuous and Gothi kick back and take a table with a good view
Tibaltuous looks around the room and spots what appear to be two humans, related, probably father and son. The bard puts the charm into high gear and after getting them a drink starts to inquire on latest events,
"Pa, remember those 2 BlackRunes cuttin' down those trees?" The father looks at the son and with a wave of a hand hushes him, "Don't talk about that.."
Tibaltuous uses charm and gold to 'persuade' the 2 to open up. It appears that the two workers are part of a crew working on building riverboats.
Gothi and Tibaltuous glance at each other. This is telling for Gothi who recalls the river dried up due to the BlackRunes taking the Heard of Enstad into the Sea of Dust - for some expedition going on there.
The older man continues, at least 10 riverboats are to be built. They are in a warehouse down below the former waterfalls at the East end of Enstad [DM: Right of E on the Enstad map - large red building]
"The BlakRunes are cuttin' down all the remaining trees!" Quaffing his beer, the older man wipes the beer from his thick beard onto one sleeve of his work coat.
Tibaltuous asks if they are under duress.
The two grin, "Hah! This is good business for me. I am a riverboat man." Smiling at his son, not thinking the impact has on the former elvish capital.
There is no river though, the bard questions.
The younger worker shrugs and says, "Them BlackRunes say there is going to be a river again."
Now this was interesting to the two. More to Gothi with her and the Fellowship's previous visit to Enstad. [DM: Blogpost] At that moment a group of three BlackRunes and head over to the barkeep. They question her.. Gothi and Tibaltuous catch a few words, "Party.. group.. 6.. Azzuul's Rest".
Tibaltuous quickly starts signing and bringing the small group of patrons into a well-known song, stomping feet and clapping fills the room. "We got to get out of here," he says at a moment break to Gothi while the chorus lines and crowd keeps the tune going. Then the bard comes up with a new plan..
Expertly weaving the song along, the bard and ranger join in appropriately until a opportune moment as even the three BlackRunes sing along. Tibaltuous calls out to the crowd using his bardic charm to weave into it: "Go
into the streets the BlackRunes are in cahoots with he undead!"
All head out and start calling out across the area, yelling and calling out. "BlackRunes are working with the undead!"
The ranger and bard note Doc, Kantif and Graxxuzazz coming back over the bridge as bemused guards listen to the townsfolk spreading the rumours.
Discussion on how to destroy the riverboats go on as the party moves as quickly and covertly as possible down to the final giant tree and Azzul's Rest. Once it is said part of the walls was from a ship either flying or sea borne. 2BlackRunes sit at the bar, 2 merchants look at the Fellowship enters then return to their conversation.
Dwynn Swordhound - an orc - is the barkeep comes over and asks if the bard will be performing, and the 1/2 elf affirms this asking for a round of drinks. Gothi asks for the most high alcohol content drink - whiskey or dwarven rum.
As the party takes a table Tibaltuous enthralls [again] the small group. Weaving the charm into his songs. The barkeep and one BlackRune and the 2 merchants are all charmed and some start dancing with the bard! Gothi goes to the bathroom and casts invisibility on herself. Then starts to acquire high end bottles [7] of alcohol while the barkeep is enthralled and dancing.
"Take to the streets my friends, spread love and cheer!" As the group troop out, he adds quietly to one of the merchants - "The BlackRunes are in league with the undead! Tell all." Tibaltuous and Gothi escort the troop out.
While the crowd pushes out, a human in a wide-brimmed hat and overcoat is trying to push in to the bar. Gothi, invisible still recognizes the human! [DM blogpost]
Vicen confronts the party. "You owe me."
Doc replies, "need us to teach ya another lesson, again?"
Battle.
Gothi meanwhile is yelling out, "the BlackRunes are in cahoots with the undead!", as they walk down the ramp with the enthralled patrons.
Vicen points a finger at the sorcerer and a beam of black energy engulfs the lizardfolk. [Disintegrate]
Graxxuzazz tries to cast a lightning bolt but Vicen counts this. Then the sorcerer casts it again! The bolt cracks through blasting a hole in the side of the bar! This gets Gothi's and Tibaltuous' attention. The remaining BlackRune fires a crossbow bolt at the bounty hunter but misses and jumps the bar and hides in the back room. Meanwhile, Graxx, very injured moves into the back room hiding with the BlackRune as well.
A fireball blows out the backroom crisping the BlackRune as well as burning Graxx more.
Making an incredible maneuver, the gunslinger pulls his gun and is able to trick-shot the blade out of the surprised bounty hunters hands. Then the raging 1/2 orc pumps 3 more shots into Vicen's gut. Graxxuzazz casts Destructive wave and does heavy damage on the bountyhunter. Tibaltuous tries to cast hold person but it appears to not affect him. Gothi fires her bow doing heavy damage more to bounty hunter.
"I'll get you next time!" Screeching in rage then casts dimension door disappears into the glowing door.
After the dust of battle clears, the bar and backroom are on fire, a gaping hole in the wall and windows shattered and blown out. Graxx recovers the BlackRune - dead.
Gothi and Tibaltuous exit as people race to assist with putting the fires out. BlackRunes question the remaining party.
The BlackRunes courier arrives and takes the multi-pages form - for access to the teleportation circle. The party is able to rest and heal up. BlackRune spellcaster casts create water and douses the flames. The party are given a room for the night for free for appearing to try and save the inn.
During the night, Gothi and Tibaltuous venture to go spy out the warehouse where the riverboats are apparently being built. They move through the undead areas and encounter undead whom appear to - again - be able to see the two even if hidden due to the yellow glimmer.
Returning successfully from their stealthy exploration, the party come up with plans to destroy the warehouse, destroy all the riverboats, then thinking more on this realize that perhaps Robin and his undead army could well be all that holds back IUZ if the BlackRunes are leaving. So maybe it would be best to allow them BlackRunes to leave. Let Robin confront the forces of IUZ.. and the Fellowship deal with their other tasks, questions and problems.
Doc heads to his room after getting a nice bottle of wine. A hand grabs him around the throat with a blade in his back. "Ahh no going for the sidearm there, my friend Sigmund.." Says a gruff voice in his
ear. "you know how much you all are worth in bounty? Twenty Thousand gold!"
Turning the gunslinger around with a laugh, he sees as old friend - Thograa! the 1/2 orc rogue/cleric [?] was able to escape from Wayberry far to the West. Hearing of the groups exploits and more the 1/2 orc was able to finally catch up to his old friends!
So the party have some decisions to make, one appears to still explore the warehouse - blue glow amongst other options and goals debating late into the early morning:
- Tibaltuous bounty for drow - Locations Fax or Nulb?
- Flying tower situation. Last seen flying south in former Duchy demons in control? Or.. Lukan?
- Contract for flying tower for Heart. Not relevant now or...?
- Request from Greyskulls commander and mate- save son in Fax?
- Elves in Bright desert east across sea in Bright desert (Doc personal potential quest)?
- Graxxuzzaz circus (potential personal quest)?
- Doctor in Fax - potential contact ally against BlackRunes?
- Robin's undead army - stop, leave, or..?
- Enstad, appears BR are planning to leave and use Heart of Enstad to 'restart' the river flow East. Destroy or not the riverboats.
- Portal to Sea of Dust (BR expidition) look into or not?
- Check warehouse where riverboats are being built. Blue glow from large hole in centre?
Beta crew
- Dragonkeep possible Demonic invasion?
- Irakul's Demonic contract - soon..
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