Ashe C2 Episode 71 - Don't Touch the Black Fluid
Mission Report for East Tellenheim Company Caravan W302958
From The honorable Gregg Fettleman
Care of his Lordship Lt. Franklin Trost
Milord our first day of travel northward was successful as was expected. Our new coachman had a shaky start but seems to have found his footing. The dragon born are an impressive addition to our security. It wasn't until the evening where I began to have doubts about our new mercenary guards. Far be it me to question your decision making milord but these scoundrels hardly seem worth the coin.
As we camped for the night, Grounder and I quickly formed a sentinel schedule. We assigned one mercenary with one of our number as a precaution and I daresay it may have saved our lives! The mercenary wizard was the first to break protocol. I found him touching myself inappropriately and then soon after one of the Sekiryuu Ken dragon born accused him of breaking into the Merchant Carriage. The dragon born demanded his arm and the wizard encased him in some type of glass bauble! Undeterred the dragon born man attacked him with the sphere! It was quite a sight to behold, the fierceness of our protectors.
His second, the red scaled dragon born known as Yabushige rushed forward to assist but was slowed by the mercenary druid and the artificer. It was at this moment where I stepped in and got control of the situation with my leadership skills. I calmed the dragon born and demanded that the green skinned wizard submit to manacles for the remainder of the journey. All agreed and bowed to my wisdom in short order.
It was at this moment where the coachman screamed in terror as he stared in blind panic at the forest. A creature most foul bounded into camp with Nalge Grounder hanging from it's fangs! As everything looked it's bleakest, as if all of us were sure to die, I asserted my authority. Rallying the unhinged mercenaries and the dragon born into a sleek fighting force I had the tiefling woman create a wall of fire to cage the creature. I nodded at the Owl man and he looked back at me as if he knew my intention. He cast a spell turning the creature into a slug, and with quick wits I shouted at Mausim to toss it into the ring of fire! He obeyed instantly and as the creature returned to it's original size it was now trapped in the blaze!
I told the strange team to regroup and be ready for anything, the readied their weapons and looked to me for guidance. I gave Mausim the go ahead to cast a repelling wind spell on the spot the creature was most likely to emerge from. Emerge it did in a venomous rage spewing some ghastly sick on my team. I commanded the blue skinned armorer to "Finish It!" As if I had released a dangerous hound from it's leash the man delivered the killing blows to the creature in quick succession.
With the danger now over I set a new watch schedule, heroically taking sentry duty with the young coachman. The relieved mercenaries headed back to their bedrolls with little grumbling. We awake now to get the horses back but I find the Owlkin Druid has somehow hypnotized them to do tricks. I spoke with him with sternly and he quickly stopped his foolishness. We now ride north again but some riders have appeared on the road. Yet another test of leadership for me, but never fear I will get your shipment to Westinox in a secure and timely fashion.
Your humble caravan steward, Gregg Fettleman
From The honorable Gregg Fettleman
Care of his Lordship Lt. Franklin Trost
Milord our first day of travel northward was successful as was expected. Our new coachman had a shaky start but seems to have found his footing. The dragon born are an impressive addition to our security. It wasn't until the evening where I began to have doubts about our new mercenary guards. Far be it me to question your decision making milord but these scoundrels hardly seem worth the coin.
As we camped for the night, Grounder and I quickly formed a sentinel schedule. We assigned one mercenary with one of our number as a precaution and I daresay it may have saved our lives! The mercenary wizard was the first to break protocol. I found him touching myself inappropriately and then soon after one of the Sekiryuu Ken dragon born accused him of breaking into the Merchant Carriage. The dragon born demanded his arm and the wizard encased him in some type of glass bauble! Undeterred the dragon born man attacked him with the sphere! It was quite a sight to behold, the fierceness of our protectors.
His second, the red scaled dragon born known as Yabushige rushed forward to assist but was slowed by the mercenary druid and the artificer. It was at this moment where I stepped in and got control of the situation with my leadership skills. I calmed the dragon born and demanded that the green skinned wizard submit to manacles for the remainder of the journey. All agreed and bowed to my wisdom in short order.
It was at this moment where the coachman screamed in terror as he stared in blind panic at the forest. A creature most foul bounded into camp with Nalge Grounder hanging from it's fangs! As everything looked it's bleakest, as if all of us were sure to die, I asserted my authority. Rallying the unhinged mercenaries and the dragon born into a sleek fighting force I had the tiefling woman create a wall of fire to cage the creature. I nodded at the Owl man and he looked back at me as if he knew my intention. He cast a spell turning the creature into a slug, and with quick wits I shouted at Mausim to toss it into the ring of fire! He obeyed instantly and as the creature returned to it's original size it was now trapped in the blaze!
I told the strange team to regroup and be ready for anything, the readied their weapons and looked to me for guidance. I gave Mausim the go ahead to cast a repelling wind spell on the spot the creature was most likely to emerge from. Emerge it did in a venomous rage spewing some ghastly sick on my team. I commanded the blue skinned armorer to "Finish It!" As if I had released a dangerous hound from it's leash the man delivered the killing blows to the creature in quick succession.
With the danger now over I set a new watch schedule, heroically taking sentry duty with the young coachman. The relieved mercenaries headed back to their bedrolls with little grumbling. We awake now to get the horses back but I find the Owlkin Druid has somehow hypnotized them to do tricks. I spoke with him with sternly and he quickly stopped his foolishness. We now ride north again but some riders have appeared on the road. Yet another test of leadership for me, but never fear I will get your shipment to Westinox in a secure and timely fashion.
Your humble caravan steward, Gregg Fettleman
Plot points/Scenes
[DM Note: He introduces himself as O'dango Jim and calls his gang the Green Banshees. The gnome in the bassinet is Pocketwatch and the others are: Clando Mug, Turf, Bandyl Grill, Wendell Crow, Hodange, and Millicent Monge. They are all Half orc's and Hobgoblins. Level 4 Rogues.]
Bandit Attack
You stand on the eastern road on a chill spring morning. The sun just crests over the horizon with a bright orange and gold glow. Those of you by the ETC carriage watch as Gregg Fettleman releases a pigeon into the air. 200 ft from your position you see the dangerous dragon born mercenary Hatamoto stand in front of two men on horseback. Medio Cre' stands next to him.
Those of you closer to the forest edge see figures moving quickly but silently through the trees. Those of you infected with Blackwort's disease, you look at the pus filled nodules on your arms and chest and feel a stinging sensation. You each take one point of exhaustion due to the disease as well as 2 HP of damage. You feel nauseous and dizzy as the disease spreads through your body.
As Hatamoto angrily confronts the lead rider, he looks past the menacing dragonborn. His eye quickly settle on Finn and Mausim. "Oh hey! I know you guys!"
Completely ignoring the dragonborn mercenary he gets off his horse and makes his way towards Finn.
"Hey man, you probably don't remember, but we tried to rob you guys last year. You and your team trounced us! I think pocketwatch got tossed like 200 ft! Once we came around we all said you guys were some of the toughest marks we ever tried. Hey! pocketwatch come out here, look who it is!"
Out from the trees walks a trio of figures, the first is a gnome with some kind of dwarfism. He looks to be about the size of a human baby. He has a light scruff on his face and an unlit cigar in his mouth. With his gruff voice he says "By blankalon's dick, it's that blue guy that kicked our ass! You working with these ETC assholes?"
The red bearded leader is a human man named O'dango Jim, he wears dark leathers and a bright green cloak. Underneath you see a much darker green cloak that he uses for stealthier missions. His current team is Pocketwatch, Clando Mug a bearded half elf man, Turf who is a heavyset half orc with a hammer, and Bandyl Grill a human woman with grey hair.
"Oh yeah, we turned over a new leaf after the new year. We only knock of The East Tellenheim Company now. These jerks are super wealthy and most of us have been jailed by them over the last few years. Sooo, If you guys are working for them then I guess we gotta fight. Unless your not?"
As the team negotiates with the Green Banshees Hatamoto has heard enough. He grabs O'dango and twists him around.
"No more foolishness! present your right arm for removal! Attempted theft is still a crime, You and your accomplices will all lose a limb."
Bandit Attack
You stand on the eastern road on a chill spring morning. The sun just crests over the horizon with a bright orange and gold glow. Those of you by the ETC carriage watch as Gregg Fettleman releases a pigeon into the air. 200 ft from your position you see the dangerous dragon born mercenary Hatamoto stand in front of two men on horseback. Medio Cre' stands next to him.
Those of you closer to the forest edge see figures moving quickly but silently through the trees. Those of you infected with Blackwort's disease, you look at the pus filled nodules on your arms and chest and feel a stinging sensation. You each take one point of exhaustion due to the disease as well as 2 HP of damage. You feel nauseous and dizzy as the disease spreads through your body.
As Hatamoto angrily confronts the lead rider, he looks past the menacing dragonborn. His eye quickly settle on Finn and Mausim. "Oh hey! I know you guys!"
Completely ignoring the dragonborn mercenary he gets off his horse and makes his way towards Finn.
"Hey man, you probably don't remember, but we tried to rob you guys last year. You and your team trounced us! I think pocketwatch got tossed like 200 ft! Once we came around we all said you guys were some of the toughest marks we ever tried. Hey! pocketwatch come out here, look who it is!"
Out from the trees walks a trio of figures, the first is a gnome with some kind of dwarfism. He looks to be about the size of a human baby. He has a light scruff on his face and an unlit cigar in his mouth. With his gruff voice he says "By blankalon's dick, it's that blue guy that kicked our ass! You working with these ETC assholes?"
The red bearded leader is a human man named O'dango Jim, he wears dark leathers and a bright green cloak. Underneath you see a much darker green cloak that he uses for stealthier missions. His current team is Pocketwatch, Clando Mug a bearded half elf man, Turf who is a heavyset half orc with a hammer, and Bandyl Grill a human woman with grey hair.
"Oh yeah, we turned over a new leaf after the new year. We only knock of The East Tellenheim Company now. These jerks are super wealthy and most of us have been jailed by them over the last few years. Sooo, If you guys are working for them then I guess we gotta fight. Unless your not?"
As the team negotiates with the Green Banshees Hatamoto has heard enough. He grabs O'dango and twists him around.
"No more foolishness! present your right arm for removal! Attempted theft is still a crime, You and your accomplices will all lose a limb."
Themes
East Tellenheim Company Caravan
The slightly larger dragonborn man has blue black scales and his breath weapon is lightning. He goes by the name Hatomoto.
The second Dragonborn has red scales and uses fire, his name is Yabushige. They cannot be bribed or paid off in anyway, they are honor bound once the contract is signed.
- A well guarded ETC merchant caravan is heading North to Westinox. The caravan consists of three large wagons made of heavy oak with iron banding. Two of the carriages are outfitted for passengers and each can comfortably sit six people. The third carriage that moves in the middle of the procession has no windows and is clearly used for goods and coins that are heading to various ETC outposts in the western cities.
- The current load is:
- 40 lbs of Alcala Silk
- Assorted Spell Components worth 4000 gp
- 150 lbs of iron and steel
- Mining Tools
- Masons tools
- Chest of Explosive Rune stones for Mining (50)
- (Hidden/unlisted cargo: Three barrels of the strange black necrosubstance created by Darkhorse)
- Officers -
- Guard 01 - Nalge Grounder - Half orc man, scar on his jaw.
- Guard 02 - Gregg fettleman - Human man 3rd level fighter.
- Carriage Driver - Medio Cre' - An inexperience human ranger.
The slightly larger dragonborn man has blue black scales and his breath weapon is lightning. He goes by the name Hatomoto.
The second Dragonborn has red scales and uses fire, his name is Yabushige. They cannot be bribed or paid off in anyway, they are honor bound once the contract is signed.
Structure
Exposition
Heading Back to Kovara Manor
When they head back to Kovara Manor they will find Anak quite alone in the building. [DM Note: Kovara has hidden a dozen of his elite guard with a Greater invisibility spell on the grounds in case the adventurers renege on the deal.] Despite the stillness of his surroundings he bids the group to set up the arcane focus on a large alter he has created in the center of his foyer. It has clamps to hold the focus in place and several rune stones to help maintain a flow of power. He addresses all of them with a hearty greeting and then begins to lay out his plan.
"Though I have some magical ability at my disposal the only way for this to work is with your help. Nuth Welker! I need you to stand over to the right of the device and cast a third level spell into this rod. Mausim, the canny sorceror I need your innate magical power to be cast into the rod on the left. I will handle the center position. Finn, the great artificer, I would ask that you monitor the device in the center of the altar and to make sure that the power level stays within green range. If it peaks and you see the needle drift into the red use the dampening controls to bring us back down. If the focus overcharges we will be in for one hell of a wild magic explosion!"
If the Druids offer help he gives them a minor task of shepherding any cats or small animals away from the property, for their own safety. Make the team roll some checks as the ritual begins. Once the three spellcasters funnel their spells into the arcane focus the gem at the front fires out a thin beam of bright white.
"Whatever happens do not touch that beam of light! the power contained within will not just burn through your flesh but will unravel your very existence on this plane. You will be destroyed atomically and beyond the help of even the gods!."
As the beam strikes the through the front door frame you see it hit the magical barrier that holds Kovara within. A cascade of colors begins to stream off of the sphere beginning at the striking point.
"It's working! Nuth! Mausim! Another spell if you would!" Kovara continues to cast his spells into the arcane focus as well. As he begins to sweat you see flashes of his true form. A not entirely unattractive horned man with slighlty darker skin and longer hair. Finn you watch as the needle flicks past the green portion and hits the red. The beam briefly becomes unstable and begins to undulate.
Roll an arcana check DC 14. If Finn fails make him roll on the wild magic table to see what the result is. See Magical Mishaps! Demaia or Kavax would be vulnerable to these as well as the rest of the team.
Repeat this a couple of times, give Finn at least five checks to make sure nothing goes wrong. Have Mausim and Nuth give constitution checks as well with every fail becoming a magical Mishap. When the ritual is complete the barrier shatters and explodes outward like a massive soap bubble!
You watch as the beam shatters the barrier! Now completely filled with hazy colors like oil on pavement, the colors intensify and the barrier explodes outward! Instead of fire and brick it explodes like a massive soap bubble. The millions of complex weaves of magic untangle at the same time and a rainbow of colors sails off into the atmosphere and the rest of the city. Despite the size it seems to be harmless. Mausim and Nuth you both go down on one knee and suffer two points of exhaustion. The ritual was a success and you watch as the arcane focus begins to crumble as the stone of the horse head breaks down and devolves into sand. The gems around it fall with it into a fine pile of white.
[DM Note: This is a final illusion cast by Anak Kovara! the arcane focus is still whole he is desperately trying to trick the players. Allow Finn an arcana check DC 21 to notice anything amiss] History of Anak Kovara: "The answer is I was summoned to this plane of existence by a powerful wizard. See pretty boring story now that I say it outloud. Yes, you would term my provenance as a demon or a djinn but that doesn't make me evil or out to rule the world. Doesn't make me the same as the Dark One. After I was summoned I was trapped in the ritual circle. It's still right upstairs in the room above me. The wizard who called himself Melvikothe, trapped me and decided to use my divination abilties to help him defeat another mage. Not too long after he fought his rival and died just outside, whatever wild magic explosions were created resulted in me being trapped here for even longer. In the last few centuries I have managed to expand my limits to the edges of the manor house, I can now roam it's halls and rooms but no more." The arcane focus that you carried and protected for so long would allow me to destroy the barrier and live like anyone else. You get me the arcane focus and I give you a workforce to help lift your airship out of the river. Before you tell me that you already have a deal with Herod I would remind you that Herod only has his company and wealth because of me. Over the years I helped him and the rest of the Eyes of the Basilisk achieve their money and power. I can make that deal evaporate with a snap of my fingers."
Anak Kovara is indeed what we be called a demon, he comes a plane of existence adjacent to the Ethereal plane, called Tel'Aran'Rhiod. It is a traveling dimension and a dimension that allows access to dreaming. He claims that if he severs his connection to the his home plane he would never return and would find a manner of mortality here on Tanaheim. His lifespan is very long and he grew very bored moving through the worlds of others never being able to touch or interact with them. Once he was summoned to the material plane he experienced a rush of sensations. He immediately became addicted to the sounds and feelings all around him. His secret is that he set up the battle of the two wizards by contacting Melvikothe's rival Oriander Orindrase. He came to him in a dream and told him of the treachery of Melvikothe. He expected to be set free immediately but the binding did not come apart, and despite it's elastic nature it has only strengthened over the years.
After the Ritual Anak who also claims to be exhausted offers them a feast in exchange for their incredible service. He tells them that he has made arrangements for them to dine at the Dryad's Globes.
"An establishment of some ill repute that I have been dying to try! What fun it will be to walk amongst the citizens of this great city, especially those that actually live and work. I am so tired of the wealthy stuffed shirts I have been entertaining for the last several decades."
He slumps in exhaustion and fails to maintain his illusory form but even in his true form he is an attractive charismatic sort of Tiefling. "Come let us discuss the details of getting you that air ship!"
Conflict
The Fierce Stargazer
- Currently it still sits at the bottom of the river that flows around Westinox. It will need to be repaired and restaffed once it is pulled out of the water. Some of the crew who operated under Exatron Saul will still be in the city including
Crew of the Fierce Stargazer: - Navigator - Mevi Flashfoot, halfling woman
- Pilot - Bevenar Font, human man with brown skin and a shaved head.
- Cook - Pelly Portnut, half orc man with a large belly and a topknot of black hair.
- Engineer - Gnome man by the name of Tumtum Brushnickel
- Assistant engineer - Firbolg woman named Sippi Cashelhorne
- Squabbie - Halfling man by the name of Nock "Gaffer" Littlefoot.
Current Date : The Year SF3, 3029 the month of Tanarisar (May)
Plot type
Main Story
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Related Organizations
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