"Company of the Hardened Anvil" PT 6 a

"Company of the Hardened Anvil" PT 6 v1

Roll # 1  Meeting the Patrol Leader (DC 11)  +5 - Result 9 (Fail)
Roll # 2 First Level In (DC 12)  +4 - Result 6 (Fail)
Roll # 3 Stairs Down (DC 14)  +3 - Result 14 (Succeed)
Roll # 4 - Any other suggestions?

At the appropriate time, the party made their way toward the Tower, trying to ignore all the distractions on the path. There were many, anyone with coin in their pocket or longing in their heart or a dry mouth, could find something to better capture their attention. But the early moon was out, it was early evening and they had somewhere to be.  The Tower knights paid them little attention, but a few of the marching soldiers looked directly at them.

A hundred feet outside of the site, a group of well armed and heavily fortified Dwarves, around twenty or so, stood ready, but not in attention, their flag had the markings they were looking for. All of them had very similar weapons, an axe, hammer and crossbow, and their armors mirrored each other in precision. This was not a rag-tag bunch of volunteers = these were soldiers, professional ones. They looked old and rugged and marking of experience across their faces.  A few of them looked over, but there were no welcoming shouts.

The party stopped, and Rillo stepped forward, looking for someone who looked different, someone who looked in command. None of them spoke, or lifted a hammer, the most traditional way for Dwarves and their allies to greet one another. Rillo wasn't sure what these men, these Dwarves were told, if anything. 'Is there a Lead in this group?' She waited for a sound, but a few guffaws greeted her, but they all stood silently still, looking at the party.

'Wee're heere to elp ye in yer search.' Rillo spoke again, changing her accent to the Spirelands, the mountains of rock that bolt up from the earth to high above the sky, hoping that this would get a better reaction from them. Again nothing.

The ranger, Caventh came up to her, and put a hand on her shoulder. 'First Axe' he said in Dwarven. His people the Jahlen were called Stone Brothers by their mountain Dwarf kin, in many places, he hoped they would recognize him as an ally.

'Ye be Raiders?' came the reply by one of the Dwarves in the same tongue, who stepped out. No weapons in his hand, but his armor semed a little different than the rest.

"No. We're working for Vorrecknos the Bull" A bunch of the dwarves jeered and turned away. The leader said nothing and did not move, at first.

"Your first mission for him?" the fighter asked... Caventh nodded. "Do you know his reputation?"

Caventh hesitated, "We're new...here. We need to get below, he was..."

The Dwarf commander finished his sentence, "The easiest way to get below."  The jahlen froze, he could tell the Dwarf disapproved. The First Axe commander turned away, but spoke, "Follow us. Don't get in our way...when we get down to the 20th floor,  you'll have five hours, maybe six. Whatever you want done, do it. No slaves, no undead...If we get bounty, you don't get a share."

"Got it." Caventh said slowly. He wanted to go up and shake the dwarves hand, but hesitated. The commander wasn't angry, but his contempt was heavy. So the dwarves weren't allies, probably knew they wouldn't turn them away,

Ennoss stepped forward to speak with him. 'They cast belief spells...they don't trust us.'

Their leader, Rillo said bluntly - 'First steps. We may stumble but we need to get down there.'

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Company of the Hardened Anvil PT 5

"Company of the Hardened Anvil" PT 5

Roll 1 - Required DC 15 (+6) = Getting to Vorrecknos; Rolled 22 - Success
Roll 2 - Required DC 20 (+4) = Dice Games; Rolled 8 - Strong Failure

The entire party started making their way through the camps, filled with the soldiers and rogues from across the region. Most of these men were here for short periods and did their honour bound duty. Others came for the pitiful pay or a chance to make it rich down below. The most desperate were these scoundrels, not used as explorers or guards but a living barricade, thrown into the mass combat, if something were to re-appear out of the Tower or its catacombs. Most served a few years and saw no action, then returned to a normal prison having served a substantial part of their sentence. For others, there was no return, if they did face an encounter from the caverns most likely they would be dead.

The Casnian guards were very light around here, a few soldier standing in groups of three or four, paying little heed to anything except their conversations with each other. If one didn't recognize the purple flags, one could almost assume they were regulars, here fighting for glory or wealth. An assortment of creatures, Dwarf and Human were the majority of the prisoners and a few others like Tender, and Minotaur, and some more that couldn't be immediately identified. Some had small

Vorrecknos sat at a table with a group, who he pushed away with a snort when he saw the adventurers approach. The whole party started to come closer, and he put up his hand, to say that only one need come forward.  Caventh did, and the two had a brief conversation, the Minotaur told his Jahlen associate what to do, deliver a package to a guard, and return for half the pay tomorrow evening. Nothing was really illegal, just frowned upon as Vorrecknos explained it. Caventh left for a moment to speak with his group.

Unlike the rest of her party, Ennos was hard to recognize, she deliberately dressed in dark cloaks to limit potential recognition. Few non-casters would ever know of her people, but she had been accosted many times in cities before having to flee, and didn't want her party to suffer with her, especially among the most technical and lawful, the faithful of Casna. She did her best to get a view of the Minotaur, but what she saw was the bold red skin and hair, a paid of magnificent white horns - Vorrecknos was Knothian Minotaur, a true-born. His grey skin and black feeble was horn was probably due to poisoning. This was a bad sign... she explained it to Unnos, but he sushed her, not a point right now, but certainly intriguing.

Rillo asked if anyone had problems accepting the deal, and all but Vasano agreed immediately, while they all wanted to get below, the cleric was unsure. He still didn't trust the Minotaur but the others were trying to convince him to take the risk. The cleric looked down at his holy symbol circlet, which had a slight brown glow emanating from it, there was danger but he was unsure if this Minotaur bastard was what he felt ... he nodded agreement, they had to get below.

The ranger stepped back and said the group consented. Immediately thereafter, the Grey Minotaur dropped two bags down. One he explained is half the payment, the other was to be delivered to Renthok, a Dwarf guard on the 20th floor. The best way to get below was with one of the patrols, he gave them a badge that would enable them to work with one of the Dwarven patrols. All of the party knew this wasn't strictly above board, it skittered the lawful structure in the Tower guard - probably not enough to get arrested though.

As the party headed back to their camp, Rillo noticed a small tent outside the prison area, a place with considerable movement. She slowly made her way closer and recognized this as a small gambling den. She made careful observation of where the watchers were, and who the patrons were, a majority of Tender, Elves and human soldiers. The dealers she couldn't recognize, but she was sure that this was a place of action. She made her way there but was stopped by two guards in black armor, long tall black feather, they carried flails and elaborately decorated crossbows; they were obviously from the Church of Keran, one of the largest lawful groups in the realm, strictly lawful and usually very evil.

They asked her about the third moon...and she had no proper reply, she didn't know the correct passwords, so they dismissed her and said it was a busy day and she couldn`t make it into the gaming tent. She knew if she had the time she would find the passwords by talking with enough people in the area, Was this a casino of Fatanus she wondered, but why would the Keranites be guarding this? This was something to remember for another day.

Roll # 1  Meeting the Patrol Leader (DC 11) +4
Roll # 2 First Level In (DC 12)  +3
Roll # 3 Stairs Down (DC 14)  +3
Roll # 4 - Any other suggestions?

Fleshing out the play-by-post characters

"Company of the Hardened Anvil"

Rillo (Rillonius D'Zamat) A short haired heavily tattooed, human female in red leather armor, can appear as a male if she needs to. Very quick with short blades, she has a great tumbling ability that she utilizes in combat.  Raised as a former slave in a Mandorrian city, far to the South. Has many city and sailor contacts. Utilizes a weapon that was absorbed into her body, that appears as a tattoo that she can summon into her hands. Found a book of spells that Unnos wants to have, and she has promised that eventually he will be able to look through its pages. Was apart of the 3-Silvers Guild, a notorious thieving group, until she gave them up realizing they were being manipulated by a dark cult. Role: 4th level Finder (Rogue); Align: CN

Vassano D'Aquarra - Young, male, naive face, very studious and faithful. Raised in great temples, where his presence brought heavenly admirers. At certain times, a glorious halo surrounds his head, which is only known celestial heritage. His mother was an adventurer with strong local connections to many adventuring parties, his father was a heavenly consort that he has not been able to find. Was long courted by the faithful of Quanna, but he has always been more connected to the city knights, followers of the Lord of the Poor - Darras. He serves because of favors secured by Rillo, a scoundrel that has helped him and his church out. Role: 4th level Cleric; Align: NG

Caventh Zore - Jahlen ranger, without his golden horns,  looking for a way to them to be reborn, has a helmet that copies his innate shape. From the Eastern spires, a hunter that has long helped with tracking criminals, both with his people and the Phaetox peoples. One of his jobs took him into a Cult of Vilrice that took him prisoner, that started torturing him and eventually lead to their removal of his golden horns, the worst possible sentence for a Jahlen. He now hunts evil cultists, which was his connection with Rillo.  Role: 4th level Ranger; Align: CG

Unnos - Mystic, bald human male with a prominent mustache from the Spirelands, a remote area where humans and Phaetox are the only ones in the area. Unnos was first hired to travel in the jammers, then later learned he could make much money funds by going into dungeons.  Nyssian Sorcerer types switch spells at any church - for him, it is the churches of both the Light (Quanna) and Dark (Keran) but must pay the equivalent to a spell study to switch. Has a winged snake for a familiar that never leaves his arm: Role: 4th level sorcerer; Align: LN

Ennoss - Blue skinned humanoid female with white hair, she is a Vottinna, who are magic nulifiers. She uses her thin rapier, two daggers and her martial arts monk training in combat.  Her people have long been heralded for removing cursed magic and stealing the same artefacts alike, to her people all magical items are dangerous and should be destroyed.  Connected strongly to the Sorcerer as they were both captured by the Dacian Phaetox for crimes, and when they were imprisoned together found out that they could work together for incredible benefits to their abilities. She changed her name, and now follows the male around in a subservient role, helping him achieve his goals, to complete hers - hunt down dangerous items.  Role: 4HD Monster + Rogue; ; Align: LN~LE

Company of the Hardened Anvil Pt 4

1. Implore the tent of Darras for permission to enter the Tower in one of their patrols? (DC 12) +4  Roll # 1 - Required DC 12 (+4) = 8 = Result Fail

2. Can they find a way to sneak into the tunnels or Tower? (DC 15 / 18) +3 Roll # 2 - Required DC 15 / 18 (+3) = 5 = 8 = Result Fail

3. Can they make a connection in one of the pubs? (DC 18)  +2 Roll # 3 - Required DC 18 (+5) = 22 = Result success

4. Any other suggestions?

The night went quiet, only the lone bugle of formation broke the otherwise silence. All of them, focused on their goal, did not go out until early morning, all intending to get sleep.

The spell caster and his ally went out before the screech of the cochin, the early morning soldier ritual. They wanted to scan the Tower in different light, to see if there was any not-so obvious way into the Tower or tunnels. A group of early morning clerics, from an assortment of the churches made their way round the Tower, stopping at designated points to do both shared and quiet prayers. Unnos, the Sorceror and Ènnoss, went with them. Their path was obvious so the two could hop out of line easily enough, do their scans and head back into order without raising too many questions. Again, like their previous scans, nothing in the Tower or the path grabbed their attention, nothing sparkled with magic or energy or possibility. This was a closed point. People, not magic or energy came from the Tower. Both of them were perturbed, neither had seen anything like this in any of the town or dungeons they had been to in their career. By the time the prayer circle was over, both were even more determined to investigate the Tower from within. (Roll 2, failed)

Just before the two returned to their tent, the cleric Vassano made his way back to the stables of Darras, hoping to make a connection to get into Tower soon. Again, fairly quickly he was greeted by Lei-Lanna. She explained that she had not found a suitable group for them to accompany into the Tower. There were soldier squads they could join, but they all had missions away from the Tower. She assured Vassano she had connections, but it would take a few more days. He noticed there were many more followers there today, many of them in brown cloaks or tunics, but others as well, many in military uniforms.  Most were there to arrange transportation of items to or from the location, he tried to weigh everything in his mind, could he come up with a deal that could help his party out. (Roll 1, failed)

Rillo and Caventh went to some of the large feeding tables, group meals for some of the poorest assigned to the Tower. While many of them were sponsored by the churches or militia groups, others were much smaller, and this one with a purple circle surrounding a tower, distinctly different then the Tower here. Purple represented the colour of Casna, Lord of Laws, the strictest church with ever-exacting laws, rarely known for forgiveness. These were convicted criminals...not the best sort for most things, but, perhaps for what the group wanted, a chance to get inside.

Caventh asked around, and found that one of them, a convicted warlord by the name of Vorrecknos, was looking for some volunteers. Asking around, he saw the brute of a Minotaur, a grey skinned beast, bulging muscles, who looked like he could tear a human apart...except for the glowing purple tattoos that proclaimed him a criminal, he would want to share an ale with him. When asked what the job was, the monster smiled and said delivery inside the Tower tonight, the pay was 100 crowns. (Roll 3, Success)

The ranger and rogue didn't entirely trust Vorrecknos, but did any of the others have a better chance at getting them inside? They returned to their team, and they each explained their findings. At least right now they felt the grey Minotaur offered the best chance. Caventh explained what most of them already knew, his people, the Jahlen were blood-kin to Minotaurs, not exactly allies, but not blood enemies either. His people were of the spires, tall mountains in the north. He didn't recognize this type, if it were a true type. The standard Knothian type had red flesh and many of them lived near the Western Seas or High Forest, nowhere near here. They all seemed to be willing to meet Vorrecknos to hear what the job was and could it help them get inside?

Roll 1 - Required DC 15 (+6) = Getting to Vorrecknos
Roll 2 - Required DC 20 (+4) = Dice Games
Roll 3 - Any other suggestions?