[Making connections and then traveling up the Mosel River.]
[This session took place May 8, 2004. We were playing Champions 5th Edition with the Second Edition Fantasy Hero supplement.]
Player Characters
Tim, a Wizard - male human from the Free City of Freegate, graduate of Outlands University
Dangar Stonekleaver – male dwarf from the Northern Dwarven Kingdom
Mord Worldfist – male dwarf bodyguard [and handler] for Dangar
Wendell Dorshield III – male gnome, Captain and Architect of the Yardbird
Malwyn – male High elf fighter and military expert
Darkfox – female human thief from Freegate, secret ID of socialite Karlyn Gryphshaw
NPCs
Rebecca – female gnome, part of the Gnome security detail for Wendell
Herschal “the Hunter” – also known as “Bearkiller”, male gnome, part of the Gnome security detail for Wendell
Yacov – male gnome, part of the Gnome security detail for Wendell
Session Begins
March 23, 20 IC
Having arrived at Haus Senke, the Gnome compound in County Silverloc, the Outlanders were looking for an Adventuring Permit and a good place to eat. They had been advised that adventuring in the Empire required a permit or any treasure recovered could be claimed by the local government (it was found on their property after all). Needing local advice, they located the Supply Master for Haus Senke, Samuel, and chatted with him.
Samuel had heard of the Outlanders and their contributions to the Gnome Consortium [made their Reputation roll] and pointed out that the current home of the County Government was at Anjer House, the manor house in the center of the refugee encampments. There they would be able to gain an Adventuring Permit. The only eatery of any note was Chao's Chow, by default the best in town. He told the Outanders that the quality of what they got there was directly tied to how much they wanted to spend and the top tier food was very good. The Outlanders thanked him for his time and headed first to Anjer House for their permit.
On the way to Anjer House, while making their way through the town's ratty marketplace, Tim hired a random street urchin to act as a guide and to fend off all the other urchins/pickpockets. Tim offered a princely fee of two silver pieces, purchasing the immediate loyalty of the urchin, whose name turned out to be Wulf. Unfortunately, Wulf only spoke Low Franconian [like most of the local populace] and Tim did not. Of the Outlanders, only Darkfox spoke Low Franconian and so she ended up handling translation between Tim and his guide.
On the way to Anjer House, Wulf shared that the Gnomes walled in the area around the manor house and constructed some additional buildings to hold government offices, but the Count had had a 20 ft tall earthen wall constructed around the town itself, so the people were safe, if hungry.
At Anjer House the Outlanders secured an Adventuring Permit (after only minimal bribes) and a map of the known areas of the Southern Reaches mountain (with a partial refund if they bring it back with new, accurate, data). This was a standard deal for adventurers as the Southern Reaches (the southern-most part of the Worldspine Mountains) was little explored and home to a variety of monsters, such as ogres and gnolls.
The Outlanders next went to Chao's Chow to eat. Chao’s Chow was a large three-story structure, with the upper two floors having many windows. The Outlanders were greeted at the door and asked if they wanted to eat in the Common Room or upstairs in the County View. Wulf explained that the upstairs was posh and fancy while the ground floor was like any tavern. The Outlanders opted for the County View and were escorted up a set of carpeted stairs to the second floor. They were greeted at the top of the stairs by another, better dressed, greeter and asked if they would like a private room or open seating. They opted for open seating and were shown to a table with a view of the city. [These were the cheap seats, the more expensive seats had a view of the landscape outside of the city with little to no sign of any refugees.]
While eating their meal (above average quality but costs even more), Tim (looking for markets for his beer) asked the waitress to pass along an offer to Mr. Chao to sample some of Tim's Old Sock beer. Mr. Chao accepted and he and Tim schmoozed.
After some polite discussion, Mr. Chao suggested that the Outlanders use his transportation company to travel to Phaisbourg—it would be quicker than walking and not have so much trouble with patrols. He also recommended some people in Phaisbourg who would be good local contacts. The Outlanders took Mr. Chao up on his offer and agreed to meet him the next morning at his Import/Export business.
That night the Outlanders stayed in guest rooms inside Haus Senke. Other than feeling a little small [the rooms were spacious for gnomes, not so much for humans and elves], the rooms were comfortable and secure.
March 24, 20 IC
The next morning, the Outlanders went to Chao's Import/Export where Mr. Chao introduced them to Helmut, one of his drivers. The Outlanders loaded themselves into Helmut's cart and rode off, heading west.
March 26, 20 IC
After two days of travel at breakneck speed, the Outlanders arrived at Phaisbourg mid-morning. Phaisbourg was a walled town on the Mosel River just where the valley plain became hilly before entering the mountains.
In Phaisbourg, the Outlanders looked up Gerhard Kruegar, a fur buyer recommended by Mr. Chao. Gerhard claimed all the trappers he knew were out in the mountains setting their traps...until Mr. Chao was mentioned. This seemed to "remind" him of someone still in town and he directed the Outlanders to a tavern named the Rusty Eye where they were to ask for Horace.
At the Rusty Eye, the Outlanders asked the bartender for Horace. The bartender directed them to the flop room in the back where they found a man apparently still sleeping off the effects of the previous night's drinking. After waking him up, they confirmed the man was indeed Horace, known as Horace the Mad.
Horace turned out to be a loud-voiced man with long, wild hair, ice blue eyes, and patchwork clothes made out of various animal hides. After negotiating for his services (which included paying his tab at the tavern), Horace agreed to lead the Outlanders into “The Mountains”. He talked about landsharks and “mole people”.
The Outlanders then went to the local outfitters shop (owned and run by Mr. Arndt) and purchased the gear Horace recommended. This pile of equipment cost a total of 3 platinum, which Tim paid with Freegate Royals.
After the outfitters, the group stopped at the local temple and met with Father Gerard. In exchange for a good-sized donation to the temple, the Outlanders receive a holy mace, some healing gels, and some holy water.
The Outlanders then went down to the river docks and looked for a river raft and crew to take them up the Mosel and into the mountains. They eventually met and hired a river pilot named Janko and his crew. Once the Outlanders and their pile of equipment were all loaded, the river raft headed up the Mosel (west).
April 11, 20 IC
The Outlanders and their hired raft arrived at Waterfall Island, the furthest navigable point up the Mosel River. True to its name, the small island was in a small lake at the base of a tall waterfall. At the top of the waterfall, on a stone outcropping, were the mostly intact remains of a tower Janko identified as Bleak Tower, an uninhabited set of ruins.
The Outlanders and the river raft crew unloaded all the gear onto the island, where the Outlanders made a base camp. Janko agreed to return on the Autumn Equinox [late September] to pick up the Outlanders and take them back to Phaisbourg.
The Outlanders decided that that spending the night on Waterfall Island will be safest and set watches. The watches were:
- Darkfox and Rebecca
- Dangar and Mord
- Malwyn and Herschal
- Tim and Yacov
During the second watch, Dangar and Mord (Mord, really) noticed lights moving in the upper portions of Bleak Tower. The lights eventually disappeared or went out and were not seen by any of the later watches.
Session Ends.
NPCs Met
Samuel – gnome quartermaster at Haus Senke
Wulf – street urchin hired in the refugee city to protect against pickpockets and act as a guide
Mr. Chao – Restaurateur, transportation magnate, and possible crime lord. Owner of Chao's Chow and Chao's Transport Company. Think of Senor Ferrari from Casablanca.
Gerhard Kruegar – fur buyer in Phaisbourg. Owes Mr. Chao.
Horace (the Mad) – a fur trapper and mountain man operating in the Southern Reaches. Claims to have seen mole men and landsharks. Also claims to know the herb that repels landsharks.
Mr. Arndt – Outfitter and provisioner in Phaisbourg. Owes Mr. Chao.
Father Gerard – Priest of Druuna in Phaisbourg. Outlanders received healing magics from him.
Janko – River raft captain based in Phaisbourg. Has agreed to meet the Outlanders back on Waterfall Island at the Autumn Equinox.
Happening Off-Stage
The light in the Tower was a ratling shaman observing the Luna full moon and performing a ritual. He also observed the fire on Waterfall Island and reported it after he finished with his ritual. As a result, the ratlings will be ready if the Outlanders investigate the Tower next session. [Spoiler: they do.]
DM Discussion
[I had clearly been reading on adventuring and how property was handled in history. Local lords would claim anything found and then had the option of giving a small percentage back to the people who found it. Hence, I introduced the concept of an Adventuring Permit. As the campaign until this point had been in Freegate and that city had a much more laisse faire attitude towards adventuring, it was not necessary there, but the more bureaucratic (and tax heavy) Empire wanted stronger lines of ownership and tracking of new wealth.]
[The common tongue in Freegate is known as Trade Speak by everyone else. The southern-most part of the Crendian Empire speaks Low Franconian, which covers County Silverloc, Fordsway, and the parts of the Farwood Forest not directly occupied by the Staff Elves (who speak Kuk Telanth). This was the part in my evolution as a GM where I started defining what the “common tongue” was for each region. The lingua franca of the empire is Lath Hinual, the language of the High Elves, mostly because they make up a large part of the imperial bureaucracy and have for thousands of years.]
Cultists, Cultists, Cultists
Previous session: Session 1
Next Session: Session 3 [not edited yet]
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