Hellion Blaze
Hellion Blaze
Reckless treasure hunter turned chaotic master of magic.
Relationships
Alignment
Chaotic Neutral
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Gender
Male
Eyes
Gold
Hair
Black
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Red
Height
5 ft, 10 in
Weight
160 lb.
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Exploring Beggar's Hole
We make it to Beggar's Hole. After finding an inn to spend the night, we take some time to explore the city. We learn of two possible leads: The Dirty Albatross and the Spinning Sparrow. The Spinning Sparrow is a place for criminals, the Dirty Albatross is a place for degenerates.
Stalking around the city, I try my classic pact weapon trade off. But the pawn shop clerk was on to me. TOO on to me. Gave me the chills. Invited me to have "dinner," which I can only assume was code for something sinister. Luckily, I was in disguise, so I doubt they'd know me if they saw me again.
The next day, we do another tour of the city. We get some info about our leads from our inn's barkeep, and we make our way over to gather intel. I disguise myself as a thin, flower girl to be inconspicuous.
We pass by the Spinning Sparrow first, and then the Dirty Albatross. Both were pretty dead at this time of day, but we were at least able to get a lay of the land. There are a few escape routes by the Dirty Albatross that I noted that could come in handy in a pinch.
Afterwards, I head into an antiques shop to look for trinkets. I find a nice enough looking mug that could work as a prop. The shopkeeper of the place is an odd fellow who calls himself "Gramps." He asks for a story in lieu of full payment. I make up some story about my late mother being into handmade ceramics, and learning to make mugs like that one. The shopkeep buys it and offers the mug up.
He also mentions something about a character named "Jasper." Says that "everyone" knows Jasper, and that Jasper sees and knows everything. Definitely someone to look out for. He says Jasper doesn't talk, and his form changes every day, but he can be found on the wall. And that crows usually follow him around.
Not sure how much info we can get out of a contact that doesn't talk, but it seemed like too juicy a lead not to follow. It's worth finding this Jasper and finding out what he's about.
The Road to Beggar's Hole
We are all assembled to leave on our mission. We are escorted part ways by another Harold Lorena.
She clarifies our mission is to find out the reason for the disappearances near Beggar's Hole and/or about the increase in travelers/refugees in the area. The local thieves guild should be the best source of intel in that regard.
Derach mentions that there is a shortcut to Beggar's Hole, so we naturally take it. I already anticipate complications, though he says it's just rougher terrain. But what's a shortcut without some unforeseen danger?
Next thing I know, we're getting woken up in the middle of the night by our champions. Tas apparently got himself charmed by harpies. I may have gotten charmed by them for a bit as well. In any case, not the best way to wake up.
They roughed us up a bit, since we weren't expecting them, but we gave them what for in the end. Tackled one to the ground and drove it through the neck. Burned a lot, but came out okay. Just goes to show that I'm going to need some more defensive options. More importantly, I need some reliable ranged attacks since flying enemies are a bitch to take down with melee weapons. Something to consider going forward...
Invitation to the Harbinger HQ
Some boy comes to my room and gives me a note from Daddy Kensit. It tells me to visit the underground lab that we snuck into. The message then fades. Tricky, tricky, Kensit.
Went to classes today, for the first time in a while. We had a riding lesson at the end of the day. I tried a standing skill on Derach, but it didn't quite land. Work in progress...
I'm a little disappointed to find out that the rest of the group also received the same letter this morning. They all meet me underground and we go to the lab together. The Dwarf gives us free range to look over all the magic stuff in the lab. I find some kind of blade with an image of an anvil with an eye in the center. I also find a mirror with an inscription on the back with a warning. As tempted as I am to look into the mirror, I decide to leave it be. I'm all too familiar with cured items. Something to come back to with better preparation perhaps.
Kensit finally arrives to give us a tour of the lab/base. He shows us various rooms and labs. There are two ninja swords enchanted with Abjuration magic. I am very interested in that kind of weapon, so I'll have to check them out in greater detail later. Kensit then takes us to the store room, or treasure room, as I call it. He offers me a ratty jacket which can be used to conceal my identity. Probably unnecessary for me in the grand scheme, but I do like cool new stuff. Definitely looking forward to doing some more exploring in this room.
Kensit then briefs us on our new mission. He wants us to travel to "Beggar's Hole" which, from what I remember passing through (as well as its name), seems just like home in the Shales. Supposedly a 2 days travel. We're tasked to finding more about the thieves' guild that is supposed to be running out of the area. He tells us to make preparations and talk to him tomorrow for more intel.
He then takes us through the back exit of the lab. It takes us right into the town. Looking forward to taking on a new mission. Especially one that takes us somewhere that feels so familiar.
Reporting Back to the Collegium
The whole group reports back to talk about what they discovered. It seems that I was able to gather the most intel. Not that I'm surprised at all.
We speak to daddy Kensit about our mission. He was not as impressed as I hoped he would be. In fact, he asked a lot more questions than I was expecting him to ask. Made the situation a bit less fun.
He did call me in later to congratulate me on my efforts. He actually said I'd make a good leader. Me? I thought maybe he had the wrong guy. But I guess I'll do what I can.
That evening, I was visited by a messenger who gave me a letter from Ms. Faylen. I've been invited to call on her at my earliest convenience. This all feels like it's moving so quickly. As excited as I am to meet with her, I feel as though there is a lot I should plan to accomplish by seeing her. However, I'm still not clear on what Kensit really wants.
He did say I should look to make allies wherever I can, as well as tap Faylen for whatever info I can get from her. And if we have a bit of fun while doing it, all the better!
Infiltrating the Lord's Manor, pt. 2
After regrouping, we make our way back to the manor. Tas and I get there fashionably late, as it is the appropriate thing to do (as far as I'm concerned).
I speak to Lord Ruven briefly and he introduces me to Arbin, a leatherworker. I try to get him liquored up to see if he knows anything, but it seems futile. However, I do run into the lovely Faylen, a courtesan. I manage to convince her to have a dance. I slip her some gold and she tells me of a string of murders. Each is connected by a red cloak found near the scene. The victims are seemingly unconnected, not particularly noteworthy individuals, which I take means they were messengers or other grunts with information that someone wanted to stay secret. She didn't want to tell me method of death or who might know more.
I like this Faylen a lot though. Any woman of the night is a person worthy of my respect. I hope I do meet her again at some point.
Infiltrating the Lord's Manor
We were given a new mission, to infiltrate a fancy party and gather information. I wear some guard robes, but disguise myself as Francis Dowritght, a metalworker from a artisan guild. Tas comes with me as my guard, "Johnson."
Met Lord Ruven Bryfiel and convinced him to give me an invite. Not too shabby for someone who hasn't done any infiltration in a long time. Certainly nothing this scale. I'm suddenly more happy for the opportunity to work for these Harbinger people.
Now that I've secured my invite, I'm excited to see what kind of information I can gather on the inside.
Meeting the Harbingers
Some woman was blocking my path to Derach. I did my best to fight her off, but she was crazy strong and nimble.
Apparently they were punishing all the Champions for telling us about the secret tunnel. They then sit us down and give us a talk about the Heralds and Harbingers and how their laboratory is in the tunnels. Derach tells me that they are hiding something else down there they won't tell me about. I can't trust any of them until I can see for myself what they're up to.
They did say something that piqued my interest though. Taking on special missions, gathering intel, assassinations, etc. Right down my alley. Derach vouches for them, saying that they can be trusted. I suppose they're not unlike myself. Honest, but shady. With time, I may find myself liking this whole Harbinger business. We'll see how it goes.
They give us some special classes in the evening specific to Harbingers. This time around we were instructed to search for the Elf woman in a magical fog. We were sent through a stone maze of some kind. It took us some time to get through, but we made it out okay. However, the other half of our group seemed to decide to set the forest on fire to try to flush her out. I've found it difficult to work with others in the past because they've seen me as a liability. I guess I know now how they felt.
Though I trust the others are not actively working against me, I don't know that I can trust their decision making...
First Day of Classes at the Collegium
In the morning, I spent some time getting a lay of the land at the Collegium. Lots of gardens and junk. Seems kinda frilly, but there's definitely secrets left to uncover.
They give us special uniforms to wear. It's pretty plain, but it's got a cape, so that's a plus.
Met some kid named Tabor who supposedly is a Chosen as well. Apparently just anyone can be a Chosen here. He tries to show off by copping my dagger. Not cool. I'm definitely going to be keeping my eye on this one.
History class was trippy. Got put under and shown some stuff psychically. Also learned that there's a possibility to learn a special skill with Derach. I'm not sure how that works, and apparently it's dangerous, but seems like a great opportunity. Rest of the classes during the day are pretty boring.
At lunch, all the horses tell us that there's some kind of secret passage to a hidden treasure. We do some investigating and make our way into some hidden dungeon under the Collegium. There are some weird lizardy tentacle things that try to attack us, but we make short work of them.
We head deeper in to find a large door. I do my best to prevent any traps from triggering and expertly pick the lock. Just like old times.
However, once the door is open, there's a bright light and we're all suddenly back in the Collegium. Something fishy is definitely going on!
Arrival at the Collegium
It had been months of traveling. Maybe? I couldn't possibly keep track.
Somehow, we arrive in a town called Navelian. Derach never seems to tire. He says he has been living in the town for quite a while. The town is mostly working class it seems. People seem friendly. Even to me. Strange. I don't know if I trust it.
Derach tells me that he can read my thoughts. A curious (and rather shocking) prospect. He tells me I'm to learn how to control it at the collegium.
Erdan, the head of the collegium, introduces himself to me and welcomes me to the place.
Callan, a stable hand of sorts, leads me to the dining hall where, there is a whole buffet of food. He tells me of the heralds. That they are here to maintain balance in the continent.
I meet the 4 other "Chosen" trainees. They all seem strange in their own ways. I'll need more time to figure them out.
They tell us that we can learn magic as well as combat skills here. This all seems too good to be true.
Lordrin, the quartermaster, takes us through a physical course (swords, hand-to-hand, and archery). I do poorly at all three (mainly because I'm still exhausted from my long journey). I look forward to besting him once I am at full strength.
The collegium seems like a strange place overall, but I think it's worth learning what they have to teach.
Voyage on the Wavebreaker
Voyaging on the pirate ship Wavebreaker under Captain Halbrook Zef. We arrive an an archipelago rumored to be the hiding place of a booty of treasure left by a captured pirate captain. I break off from the group and search for what treasure I can find. I discover a hidden case with a small crown and a dagger. I take them both.
Later that night, I feel as though I am being watched in my dreams. Afterwords, I discover I have magic abilities I did not know I had. I leave the Wavebreaker and decide to travel on my own for a bit, honing my new abilities.
Two years later, I hear rumors of a group of wizards coming to The Shales looking for children to recruit for their academy. Though, I am a bit older than their target students, I decide to eavesdrop on them in the hopes they can give me the opportunity to heighten my abilities. However, on my way to accost them, I find a horse that I assume is one of theirs. Though, he is different from the other horses. I find myself locking eyes with him and can hear him speak to me. He introduces himself as Derach, and calls me "The Chosen."
Without hesitation, I decide to go wherever this Derach decides to take me.
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