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Post by blacknigel on Dec 16, 2011 8:48:09 GMT -5
Rrowullh, "Ahgreed. Let's make for the mountain. Purrhaps, we visit the Can-nibuls on our way back."
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Post by Lord Inar on Dec 16, 2011 11:16:07 GMT -5
"That's the spirit! To the mountain it is!" Reynaldo starts in the direction of the mountain.
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Post by mister frau blucher on Dec 22, 2011 14:45:03 GMT -5
Hey, guys,
As you may recall, my home internet is kaput. This weekend, the work computer got attacked by the ping.exe virus, and I finally got rid of it yesterday, but the internet connection was screwed. Fixed it finally about an hour ago. I will try to post more tomorrow. Sorry for the delay!
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Post by mister frau blucher on Dec 23, 2011 10:37:34 GMT -5
The climb is a bit rugged but you make it near the crest with little difficulty. Then you top a final ridge.
Through the thin layers of rain before you, a gaunt castle looms. The walls are moss-covered but sound, and the iron gate is open. A few vague shapes hover on the battlements.
The trail ends here and you look up. A half-dozen beings with goats’ heads and armed with crossbows stare back: caprians. They nod at you as you enter the gate.
The dreary courtyard is a broad, cobble-stoned clearing, with patches of pooled rain, bounded by grim walls. Several tents are set up in one corner, and a group of wet figures are huddled around a fire there, burning well despite the drizzle.
There is a fortified manor house, built from black stone and with thin, arched windows, with a large, scarlet door. In addition there is a barracks, with several caprians standing a casual guard by the entrance.
As you enter, those in the courtyard look up with some curiosity, but otherwise they ignore you.
You may approach the manor and knock on the doors, talk to the guards outside the barracks, or talk to the figures huddled beside the tents, which seems to be a mixed batch of pale humans and...dwarggs.
[Dwarggs are degenerate cousins of dwarves, generally hostile and untrustworthy, but you know thwere is a dwargg trading post on your way, so some do evidently interact and trade with others.]
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Post by blackjack on Dec 23, 2011 22:29:45 GMT -5
Enyeto pulls a red pointy hat with white fringe out of his pack and places it on his head. He then holds his belly and gives a hearty "HO, HO, HO, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night."
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Post by mister frau blucher on Dec 26, 2011 9:47:26 GMT -5
Aye, I hope everyone had a great Christmas!
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Post by mister frau blucher on Dec 29, 2011 17:34:25 GMT -5
One of the caprians digs at his ear. "Eh? Speak up, manlings."
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Post by blacknigel on Dec 30, 2011 19:22:58 GMT -5
"Inyaytoh, my friend I don't know where you got that hat. From Lord Yobs' goblins I guess. Put it away, these dark fellows don't seem to want our entertainments. Let's see what the damp ones can tell us. Come with me" Khanmahtt approaches the humans and dwarggs around the fire. "Your fire is warming, thank you. What news from under the mountain?"
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Post by blacknigel on Dec 30, 2011 19:24:59 GMT -5
Rrowullh sidles up next to Tembo, "Dare we knock on the manor door?"
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Post by mister frau blucher on Jan 1, 2012 11:34:29 GMT -5
"Inyaytoh, my friend I don't know where you got that hat. From Lord Yobs' goblins I guess. Put it away, these dark fellows don't seem to want our entertainments. Let's see what the damp ones can tell us. Come with me" Khanmahtt approaches the humans and dwarggs around the fire. "Your fire is warming, thank you. What news from under the mountain?" As you hail the six travellers around the fire, one of the dwarggs laughs unpleasantly. "By the Wom God's gracious effluvium! A tiger-man! I'd pay to watch you in the arenas of Blackledge. Aye, that I would..." His eyes narrow calculatingly... But a slender man, evidently the leader, speaks up. "That's enough, Callus, you half-wit. Fetch some biscuits for our new friends. And a couple of tankards of ale. "I am Gort," he addresses you, "a trader between the realms below and those above. These men and dwarggs are my employees. We have a load of fungus with exotic properties we have transported from the underworld. We await our customers, travelling to meet us on the backs of great hawks. So we endure this miserable wetness from the sky as we wait. "News from within the mountain? All is pretty tame. A few skirmishes between orc tribes on the first level, over the hunting grounds, but that is not unusual. Still a few adventurers - such as yourselves, unless my guess is far astray - trickle down to seek treasure. When the last wave of adventurers came, when the Ochre Mask was hiding below, several lost sites within the mountain were discovered again. So the plunderers returned. But that stream has slowed to a trickle. "What else? A gladiatorial revolt in Blackledge, the great city of the dwarggs. First time in a hundred years, I am told! But they were all slain, so life is normal there, again. "Little more to report, from the perpective of an honest merchant, such as myself." Callus has pulled two biscuits from the griddle to one side of their fire, and put them on a dented plate. He provides two mugs to Gort, who pours from the decanter before him. He makes sure that you see him pouring more ale from this same decanter for himself, and he takes a great draught from it. "Too early for some people, I am told, but the lack of sunlight below has our schedules a bit less restrictive." He offers Khanmahtt and Enyeto the plate of biscuits, and a mug of the ale to each. "So, friend tigran and fellow human, tell me your names, and your errand should you wish. Mayhap, we can help."
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Post by blacknigel on Jan 2, 2012 12:48:09 GMT -5
"Gort! Kahlahtu for making us welcome. Bahrr-ada for your sharing of news, and Neekt'oh for reminding your Dwahrrgg that not all 'entertainments' can be found in the Arena."
"I am called Khanmahtt. My friend here and I with others intend to enter the mountain. I do not know the details, but hearrd our path would take us to a Dwahrrgg trading post. We have been warned the Dwahrrgg city, Blackledge is it?, would be dangerous for us."
Khanmahtt takes one of the mugs and gives the ale a sniff. "This is not my drink of choice, but again thank you. Your 'schedule' is different from mine, but I would accept your gifts and enjoy it later." He takes one of the biscuits and puts in a pocket.
"In balance for your gift of news, I will tell you this. The road down from the mountain has two bands of goblins active. Lord Yobs' has a sizeable camp of mostly harmless party-goers. But there is another band that lies in ambush for travellers. Further below there is a troll-bridge and others that would charge travellers a toll. Purrhaps this information will serve to alert you or your customers. Surely, not all your customers fly?"
"As a trader under the mountain, you are familiar with the Dwahrrgg's post. How could one like me," he looks towards Callus, "best avoid an unnecessary trip to the Arena of Blackledge?"
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Post by mister frau blucher on Jan 2, 2012 15:19:53 GMT -5
Gort listens, then says, "Indeed, not all my customers fly! But many of my surface-world customers do. The trail here to these rather desolate mountains is a dangerous one, from both terrain and biological hazzards. Though the same can be said for the underworld as well...
"This entire batch of fungus will be purchased by a single customer, whom we patiently await. So while your warnings of the road below aid me little now, I will keep them in mind for others who will take that route to meet me in the future.
"As for avoiding the arena, you have a great advantage already - numbers. I see eight in your group, yes? A sizeable travelling party. Slaver dwarggs seeking to fill out their arena rosters prefer solitary or small groups of travellers, and back alleys. Remain with your party, stay in the open - and you will fare well.
"If you are indeed going to the dwargg trading post, the city of Blackledge is west of there, in a great cavern, so do not venture to the west.
"The trading post is on the second level, past various orc holdings. Some of those orcs are decent, having profited from trade, and they respect it. You will pass at least one checkpoint when you get to the first level, the Axefeast tribe, and they are good to deal with. They charge a fee of 5 or 10 silvers per party for passage, but it is worth having their goodwill.
"Past that checkpoint are various other orc enclaves, and they might be tempted to sell you to dwargg slavers, but your party size again works in your favor. Progressing south and west will get you to the great stairs to the second level, and a dwargg checkpoint at the bottom. They may demand combat rather than a toll for passing through. Shortly past this checkpoint is the trading post, with various other passsages leading from it.
"Stay together, and do not head west.
"I hope this helps. And that you spread news of my agreeable character to those you encounter. Perhaps we will do business, when we next meet, friend Khanmahtt."
----
While Gort speaks, one of the other dwarggs in the group nods at Enyeto and his tomahawks. "Nice weapons," he tells the youth. "I happen to have a hatchet of exceptional quality that I recently acquired from one of my cousins. I guarantee you have never seen its like. It is a bargain at 75 silvers. Would you like to see it?"
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Post by blackjack on Jan 2, 2012 22:16:05 GMT -5
Enyeto: Is there a price for looking? If not I would like very much to see your hatchet. Is this weapon balanced for throwing?
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Post by mister frau blucher on Jan 3, 2012 10:35:02 GMT -5
Enyeto: Is there a price for looking? If not I would like very much to see your hatchet. Is this weapon balanced for throwing? The dwargg has an ugly smile. "Price for looking? Yes - a few moments of your precious time, potential customer. You are concerned about throwing balance? An excellent thought - I knew you had a keen eye. In fact, throwing this hatchet will be unlike any hurling experience you have yet had in your young life." He reaches into a pack and pulls out a bundle. He unwraps it and you look upon a well-crafted hatchet. The blade is of a blackish metal. There seems to have been a smith's mark at the back of the head, but it is faint. But if this weapon is old, it certainly does not show its age. You heft it and the balance is very good. When you look up, the dwargg has set one of their logs some ten yards across the courtyard, and he invites you to throw. You comply, and must admit to yourself it does feel good. You strike exactly where you are aiming. The hatchet, while its edge is unremarkable, has great balance (+1 to hit, in melee or throwing). "Ah, I can see you are a man of distinction, and fearles to boot. This weapon deserves to be wielded by you, young warrior! Were I to travel to Thunder Keep, or return with this to the trading post, I could get over 100 silvers for it. But seeing your affinity for such weapons makes a poor heart like mine smile. So, 75 silvers and you shall enter Cygnosa better equipped than you had intended!" [Enyeto may try to haggle, but the dwargg is solid - so if you want it, 75 silvers!]
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Post by blackjack on Jan 3, 2012 21:59:56 GMT -5
"Friend, if you were to travel to Thunder Keep you would have many perils. Not to mention the expense of travel and the tolls along the way. I will give you 50 silvers."
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