Tuesday, October 20, 2015

(Hackmaster) Burning Trogs Rule! #15: The Search for Silver

Our active cast of The Burning Trogs:
  • Zorin Redrock, Gnome Titan Fighter. Veteran of the Barbarian Wars against the Gnomish City-States, Zorin had retired and has honing his skills for future glory in Marakeikos. Unfortunately, his near bloodthirsty disdain for humans was putting a crimp in his plans
  • Cecelia Darkspruce, Half-Elf Fighter Cleric of Sif, Valkyrie of Pre-Ragnarock Battles, Hero of the Barony of Celsior. 
  • Gwendylyn Lorax, Half-Elf Druid. Even a Druid of the native Rifflani Elves needed a moment or two in the dirty city for supplies and information.
  • Janus Redrock, Gnome Titan Priest of Pangrus. Zorin's cousin. Looking for brawling and booty (both financial and otherwise)
  • Brother Thomas, Human Monk. It was never ascertained exactly which monastic order Thomas originated from, only that he could indeed kick ass
  • "Whitey": War buddy of Zorin's. Pitiful albino halfling cook.  
  • Corena Ruddledater.  Young halfling girl.  Torchbearer.
28th of DecDec, 1133, Village of Verge, Kingdom of Marakeikos
The Trogs took a quick stock of their loot from Cloudland, healed up and headed back to headquarters in Celsior.    The poor weather stranded the caravan they had travelled with to get to Verge, so these merchants were far better off with supplies (and some cash to buy gems and minor magic items) that the local trading post.

Still in Verge, Zorin took the job of doling out the treasure to everyone without complaint.   He barks orders and his only main concern is getting back to Celsior for proper rest.  Gwen is forced into nothing but magic identification for a few days, not even given a trace of respite.

The most intriguing treasure was that of a magical cooking pot that purified and cooked all food that was placed within.  Of course, a magic word was needed to activate the device....

News and Rumors received while in Verge
* High demand for food in the Dwarven City of Jarred.  Humans caravans are leaving at the first break in the weather to beat out the Dwarven and Gnoll caravans.  Jarred is southwest of Verge, so this excite the current stranded merchants.
* Elven refugees from Agenmoor are disappearing all over Marakeikos.
*Orcs still control Frandor's Keep.  A brigade of Gnome Titan ex-pats are still organizing to march on the fort and retake it.
*Heavily armed desert nomads from Yarbay have finally been pushed back from the borders of Barthey.

31st of DecDec, Verge, Marakeikos.
Burning Trogs High Council is convened.
*Gwen was brought in as a Burning Trog
*Whitey was brought in as a Burning Trog
*Corena was brought in as a Burning Trog

"Corena got tired of holding the standard."

Brother Thomas suggested we need a magic-user.  They then debated in which direction they should go when the weather cleared. Jarred with a caravan?  Barthey?  Refugees and most adventurers were forbidden from entering the capital, and with Zorin's dogged determination, the group agreed to head back to Celsior.

34th of Decdec, On the road to Celsior.
Gwen's birthday was quietly celebrated before they departed Verge.  Not much in presents, but Whitey did get the magic pot to work!

The trail is barely navigable.  It's cold, it's wet, and there's way too much snow for the smaller member.  Still, they push on.

1st of Undec, 1134, Still on the cold road...
First day of Undec of the new year.  The clerics prayed for spells and received nothing... Whitey's pot is not working either.  It had happened last year, and it appeared to be becoming an regular occurance.

2nd of Undec, 1134.  Almost there...
Everything returns to normal.

3rd of Undec, 1134, Celsior
Early morning arrival at Celsior.  Cecelia's house/The Trogs' HQ is boarded up, but everything is fine.  Mutumbo set it up that way as a precaution from the refugees and ne'er do wells.  Nina and their little boy Takem are fine.  They all set forth to sell the remaining booty and look into some serious training.

28th of Undec, 1134, Celsior
An official banner of the Burning Trogs and a number of signet rings commissioned by Zorin have arrived and are distributed.  Cecelia requested an audience with Baron Desmond Celsior.  She informed him of the location and troubles around Cloudland Castle (Verge is little but an independent village with no leadership from the crown).

A few more drinks into the night, Zorin admits that he, Corena, and Whitey decided to join the Gnome Titan Legions heading to Frandor's Keep.  Control of the Trogs was transferred to Cecelia Darkspruce.

If anything happy came out of that night, it was from Brother Thomas' intoxication.  He was the last to come home from the tavern and come into the HQ with Marek the Learned, a snotty nerd.

Per Gwen: "He has two webbed hands!  He needs to spend more time with women and less time sleeping with books.  Does he know what to do with a girl?  Maybe Janus can teach him?"

29th of Undec, 1134, Celsior
Zorin and Company bid farewell to the other Trogs.  They left the magic pot with us, saying we'll need it more?

New rumors from the more "civilized" town of Celsior:
*Mirros is the most temperate of all the kingdom, but they are restrticing movement, preventing refugees from entering.
*Now the gnomes are trying to hurry and get the Spring caravans moving early.  War is in the air and moving to the east
*In was-ravaged Emron, there are not enough mages to freeze the canals for the famed Ice Skating Festival.
* King Valens wants to set up a school for mages, much like Hydincall in Crosedes or Barthey City.
* New book "Clarissa's Travels" sets the upper classes aflutter.  Rumors of a world within this world, full of a different sun and giant lizards.  Entrance is surrounded by a never-ending blizzard..

4th of DuoDec, 1134 Celsior.
After a few days of getting the solid bedrest they needed, after nights of heavy drinking, most of the Trogs were getting antsy
Winter in Celsior
Gwen  "Townspeople are getting sick of sleeping with Janus"

A Woman showed up in nearby bar looking for the Trogs.   She was a courier for  noblewoman Dame Silver of Linnard and presents Cecelia with a  fancy envelopes.  The Trogs apparently rescued her niece on one of their adventures, and she would like to return the favor with hospitality and invite them to her estate to celebrate the Feast of Erinborg.

Time to buy some fancy duds!

As it was time to move into the next storyarc, it was also time for Zorin to take a leave of absence as Hoyce, the player running him, needed to take a grad class.  To ease the storyline, his sidekick Whitey would obviously follow him, and he took full responsibility of taking their "adopted" torchbearer up to a warzone to help Whitey cook. 

Next:  #16 Winner, Winner, Finding Linnard


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