Allain Mindere
Allain Mindere
A half-elf paladin who has had trouble with finding a place she wants to settle down. She has a healthy sense of justice and spends a lot of time chasing petty criminals around the cities she's in.
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Alignment
Lawful Good
Children
Gender
Female
Eyes
Turquoise
Hair
Platinum Blonde, wavy and chin-length
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Fair
Height
189 cm
8: the Hand
We have no clue what to do with the flesh golem hand. Hans is just holding on to it, but it's rather unpleasant...
Inphi says she hears something from deeper within the ruins, which is probably not a good thing. I don't hear anything myself. It's apparently saying things in a language vaguely familiar to Inphi, but she can't understand it.
We pass through the ruins and through an archway to what might've been the heart of the establishment. There's a deep crater with smouldering hot edges and something is gleaming down there. The flames around the edges are the size of a common dog and all seems to have a shape of sorts, which is odd for fire.
Only a few moments pass by and then we are attacked by the fire, which seems so surrealistic. Inphi and some of the others manage to take out one fire with some ice magic and a hard hit from Volde.
I draw my crossbow and head for the next one. The arrow hits and the fire just seem to snuff out of existence.
Alexius manages to take out the next one with an eldritch blast.
Then Hans, bless his heart, dashes forward towards the nearest fire and chooses to throw it at the fire. He manages to take out one of the fires and the hand is mostly okay, except its thumb is ablaze.
We manage to kill off the rest of the fire and then we turn our attention to the shiny object in the crater. Inphi realizes it's a dragon scale consistent with the look of one from a silver dragon!
Now we just need to figure out what to do with it, and what to do with the weird flesh golem hand.
Alexius tries to ask it where it comes from, but it seems to be lacking the ability to answer. After another threat, the hand is trying to escape. I suggest we put a leash on it, as it would be cruel to just burn it in the flames like Hans and Inphi were suggesting.
7: Investigating
Session 7 - 1st of June
Anna the mortician takes us to the people who found the corpse of Etrius' brother. She leads us to three guards to tell us that they found him at the edge of the forest and that there were "weird guys present" and a lot of blood on his sword. He was drained when they found him.
The other guards describe the weird individuals as looking like the thing that attacked the woman back in the city. The guards were under the impression that they wanted to take the body but were interrupted.
Anna says that similar individuals have been lurking around her morgue and has tried to take a body or two. It seems there might be a pattern, that they are going after Aasimaar, but we're not certain.
The others debate going to the ruins and one of the guards tells us it's bad luck and that the "silver dragon" might be there, which only motivates some of my companions more... We make our way to the ruins with Anna in tow, they're desolate and charred with a bit of graffiti here and there. The edges of the crater are still glowing with heat, all of those years after. That fire must have been anything but normal.
When investigating the ruins, Vistra finds something odd. A hand that seems to have been sewn together from multiple pieces. It seems to be alive and jumps up on the fingertips to run like a spider. To everyone's surprise, Anna says she's seen something like it before. She says it's part of a flesh golem., it seems to be made of only aasimaar parts, very fancy golem it would seem.
6: Looking for the Masters
Session 6 - 25th of May 2020
Siu, the beggar, tells us he'll go look for the masters, though he might be a while. He informs us that he'll return to the Broken Blade Inn when he has news.
I decide that I need to buy some arrows since I forgot to bring some and my crossbow is useless without ammunition. As we go out to look for merchants, we can see the different schools scattered on the mountainside. There are about 13, but one particular draws my attention. Its walls are crumbled and the place is nothing but a burnt shell.
Etrius tells us he's headed off to the School of the Heavenly Crane to find his brother. Vistra offers that we go along, just in case. He says it'll be fine and he's sure his brother won't try to end him again. He's not very convincing. He says we can come along and so we put it on ourselves to more or less act as bodyguards for this one individual we met a day ago, where we found him tied up to a tree. Seems normal, yes.
I yell about some arrows to get the nearby merchants attention, hoping they will offer me a deal. They end up fighting each other for the chance of selling me something, and I end up buying a quiver of 20 arrows from the victorious merchant. I must say it was a much too violent display for me, but I don't think the other one was injured too badly at least.
We ask for directions and in the meantime, we learn about the burnt place. It was burnt down many years ago and people avoid to talk about it because it brings bad luck? Some rumours also claim that it was a dragon that burned the place down.
As we arrive at the School of the Heavenly Crane and as we arrive, someone is performing with their sword skills. Alexius claims that there's something fishy about his tricks though, and I believe him. He seems to have a good eye for that sort of thing.
Etrius has a word with one of the teachers present, who tells us that there's something we should see inside. We walk through the grounds and we end up entering what looks to be a medical facility. We enter a morgue and there's a body with a sheet draped over it. Etrius draws it back to reveal a dead man who can only be his brother.
A woman appears from one of the mortuary slaps, it seems like she might've been sleeping under a burial shroud. I find it quite disturbing how one can sleep next to a corpse. She introduces herself as Anna the mortician.
She tells us he died from blood loss, and that his blood was thoroughly drained. Apparently he went missing for a while and they found him dead.
5: To the Schools!
session 5 - 18th of May 2020
We learn that the man tied to the tree is named Etrius, and as it so happens, this man is also heading to the swordsmanship schools. That does make the term "thank the swords" less odd.
He says he's looking for his brother up there, but he doesn't seem ecstatic about a possible reunion. As I ask why he's looking for his brother, he says it's about inheritance and family business. As he says this, I spot a signet ring on his hand. It has a mark of a dragon crossed by two spears. I'm pretty sure this is the crest of one of the major noble houses of Xun.
I try to signal to Hans that this man might not be telling the entire truth, and the look Hans sends back tells me that he has felt something was off as well.
We climb further up the mountains and the scenery improves, the roads are better, there are beautiful archways and lanterns. Even more people as well. At last, we make it to what I assume are the schools. It's a collection of buildings scattered over the mountainside and into the valley.
Soon we hear shouting up ahead, as we go to look for what is causing the commotion, we come across two groups of people. They're yelling at each other, but they are still keeping a distance from one another. Not a brawl, yet.
A beggar is nearby as well, and he sits up as we arrive on the scene and gives us a big wide grin as he greets us. He seems quite nice. He tells us that the groups are simply arguing over which has the better swordsmanship.
Suddenly the two groups close in on each other and then they're throwing fists. I'm not impressed by their show-off, they seem to be rather unskilled fighters.
The beggar informs us that these characters are no masters, which makes a lot of sense. Otherwise, this whole institution would be quite pathetic. He offers to take us the real masters. We say yes to the offer.
But before we go find the masters, we need to find a place to stay for the night.
4 : Frog-Attack!
session 4 - 11th of May 2020
We continue up the mountain in the morning that follows. Nothing interesting really happens, though we meet a few other travellers on the road, most going the opposite direction. It’s pleasant weather as we reach a bridge, the river here is loud and thundering.
Some of the others spot what is a supposed ambush, though I see nothing at all. However, all of a sudden, several strange creatures seem to appear out of nothing. They’re bullywugs, big frog-like creatures.
Voldemar saves me from a javelin with his shield, and we all engage in different small battles. I managed to take one down that was in a tree to the left of the bridge. However, one of the other creatures manages to hit me rather hard. Suddenly, they start to run off when they see that they are losing.
As they do, we hear a man call out. He seems to have been caught by the bullywugs and has been tied to a tree. He’s wearing common clothing, but he exclaims something along the lines of “thank the swords”, which seems slightly odd.
3: Leaving for the Mountains
Session 3 - 4th of May 2020
We meet up in Voldemar’s room in the morning. As we decide to help with the duel-with-a-noble dilemma, we play around with Chirpy a bit. Then we head for the main room of the inn to get some breakfast. They have an interesting breakfast here. Some eggs, cheese and bread as well as sea grapes. They look like miniature grapes and they make an odd “pop” sound when bitten into. Not my favourite.
We decide to go buy some food for the trip, as it might take us several days to even make it to the first swordmaster place. Maybe it’s called a sword monastery? I have no clue.
I ended up buying some rations as well as some warmer boots and a coat since I assume it’s going to be chilly up in the mountains. After buying all of our needed supplies, we head out of the city and set course for the Swordpoint Mountains. The land before us is mostly plain terrain with some forests here and there. The water is such a lovely shade of blue, one could almost forget about the mission we’re on and just sit at the edge of the river and admire the lovely day. Alas, we continue over old stone bridges and past small wooded areas.
We come across a patrol which consists of some men-at-arms led by someone with a fancy cape on a horse. Not only does the fancy cape man seem to be of high rank, but he also seems to come from a noble house from the city, as far as his badges indicate at least. The house badge is a stylized eagle with wings of fire. I saw that one while we were in the city, though they were of varying depictions. Maybe they differ due to double allegiance through marriage or something like that. Maybe they just thought it looked better that way. I can’t say.
The knight asks us where we’re headed, and I just answer that we’re going to the mountains. Hans seems to be hiding behind Voldemar, and I wouldn’t risk them following after us in case they recognize any of my group members due to their… criminal activities in the past. He warns us to stay on the path, as bandits have a habit of attacking travellers on these parts.
We travel on, the sun begins to set and we’ve migrated from a stone path to a dirt path. A sign that we’re getting even further from civilization. We make it to a clearing as the light from the sun begins to dim a little bit, though it’s not sunset yet. There’s a rocky hill on the other side. The temperature is beginning to drop quite a bit.
We set up camp and Hans takes the first watch as the rest of us go to sleep.
We wake up the next day, pack up camp and go on our merry way. Hans tells us about the giant lizard he saw running through the night as the rest of us slept. I sure am glad we didn't have to fight it.
2: The Ragged Figure
Session 2 - 27th of April 2020
We all go outside, as it has become time for Voldemar's duel. I stand a bit in the back. I don't exactly support this and I also don't want to gain too much attention. As I scan the crowd, I notice a woman clad in fine clothes making her way through the masses, but what really catches my eye is the figure that appears to be following her. I set off, following behind her and the mysterious figure. She makes her way to the river. Some of the others come with me, including Hans.
Suddenly, the creature advances rapidly and attacks the lady. She whips out a sword and tries to protect herself. I run forward, swinging my axe at the individual, but it doesn't seem to do much. It feels like I've cut into room-temperature butter. Inphi shoots the creature with a fireball. It runs around and ends up slamming into me, knocking the wind out of me. In its panic, it turns it's back to me and Hans, as it tries to jump in the water to stop the fire. We both attack and manage to defuse the situation and the creature falls into the water, completely lifeless.
Eran heals me up a bit before I can even gain my bearings. I offer my help to the woman on the ground, and it becomes obvious that she must be from some noble family, at least that's what her clothes indicate. She's also an Aasimar. She has blonde hair and fair skin and stars in her eyes. I help her up and we offer to bring her to somewhere safe. She leads us to her friend's house, it's in a more humble part of the city. The insides are quite interesting. It smells of perfume, the air is hazy and there are a large number of sitting areas. Not exactly what I would call regular living quarters.
We learn that the Aasimar is named Odessa, and that the injury to her arm is a problem as she's supposed to have a duel soon. Apparently some "snotling" from the noble house Kithindara insulted her friend Chandra by calling her a whore because she declined his advances. Now I'm not one for violence, but he sounds like a problematic individual. Odessa also tells us that the house Kithindara is a noble house of elves with old money and poor attitudes. Apparently, they also seem to have a large concentration of "accidents" happen to their duel opponents. Odessa wants us to go find her a replacement, someone who can fight in her stead. She was thinking about finding a sword champion from the mountains.
1: Arrival and a Thirsty Gnome
Session 1 - 20th of April 2020
We arrive at the port around midday, the air is hot and dry. We decide to make our way to a nearby establishment named the Thirsty Gnome, though I am unsure whether this is a good move, as it seems to have a rather bad reputation. My companions might be able to fit in with the criminals, but I will not, at least not in my polished and shiny armour.
As we walk, street merchants flock to us and we can barely walk through the crowd. Luckily, I manage to pull off my famous "murder gaze walk" and I part the crowds like a sorcerer might part the waters. Or whoever has the power to do that... yes.
We come across an animal vendor who is selling birds, something I am very interested in buying. Though Hans insists on paying for our rooms first, which certainly is understandable. Who would have thought the criminal one was the most responsible at such a moment.
I restrain myself from buying a bird when the seller comes off rather shady. However, Voldemar decides to buy one still. Admittedly, it's incredibly adorable. We have decided to name the little fella Chirpy, which is quite amusing since he does indeed chirp quite a bit.
We find the Thirsty Gnome at last. It's placed in a more secluded part of the town, there are still stores but we're not being hunted by merchants. That's at least positive. Though I worry that criminal activity would also flourish in such an area of town...
My fears come alive when we enter the inn. It's filled to the brim with rather shady looking individuals and I suddenly feel like I have a target on my back. I'm whistled at by a bulky lady who's arm wrestling an orc. Quite impressive. We decided to pay or single rooms to avoid getting our things stolen and I also decided to get lunch.
We gain information on a fight and some betting that will take place in the inn, and the others are instantly wanting to join. Voldemar even tries to join the fighting and not the betting, and it seems like he succeeds.
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