The first Savage Tide has already touched the mortal world, yet none who live today recall this terrible time of red ruin. It swept over an ancient city, transforming beggar and noble, merchant and thief, resident and visitor, one and all into feral, ravenous fiends. What took the ancients hundreds of years to build came crumbling down in a matter of days. When the final ripples of the tide faded, only ruins remained.
Now, after a thousand years, the hidden architect of the Savage Tide gazes upon new targets. This time, the doom will not be limited to one hapless city. This time, all of civilization is perched on the shore, blissfully ignorant of what the tide is about to bring in.
Having been called together to a dinner held by Lavinia Vanderboren, our heroes know only that the noble lady is in trouble and needs their help. Some come to help an old friend, others to do a good deed, still others to make a name for themselves, but all for the chance to make a few coins - for the Vanderborens are known to be a wealthy merchant family. All look forward to finding out what the trouble is, and just how dangerous it will be to resolve.
As evening falls on Sasserine, six brave adventurers make their way across the Merchant's District towards the Vanderboren Estate, taking the first step down the road of destiny. As they approach the walled home, they can clearly see the towering Gothic three-story house that dominates the grounds within. Leering gargoyles and capering nymphs festoon the eaves of the manor's roof, and several trees give the manor grounds a nice buffer from the bustle of the city.
A few yards more and it becomes clear that the front gates have been left open, though no one is in evidence as they pass through. It is only when they knock that they see any sign of life. A wizened halfling woman, known by some of them as Kora Whistlegap, opens the door.
"Come in," she says, ushering the guests into the atrium. "Lady Vanderboren will be with you shortly."
Welcome all to the true beginning of the Savage Tide game. I'll be happy to let arkahm back post to the prelude. But I don't want to lose momentum now.
You can post arriving in groups or separately as seems right. And feel free to elaborate on the details of your approach.
Last edited by Trogdor on Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:48 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Following the Dwarven Priestess and the oh so lucky music man up the road to the estate Berek takes his time to gauge the building he is about to enter. While he had seen it often from the distance he knew from little Tom's bad experience that this was no place to mess with. Getting closer he closely gauges the fine stonemasonry and those odd gargoyles wondering if they were little Tom's demise.
Knarra cheerfully walks forward. She appears fearless and confident. She looks curiously at the masonry and nymphs and comments, "A grand house this is...fortune has not been a fickle companion here."
"Well if it is true what Lucky John told us and the master and mistress recently passed away fortune might or might not be generous to our hostess depending at what side of the coin you look at." Berek says with a chuckle. As they arrive at the entrance Berek bows courtly to the halfling lady leaving the introductions to Lucky John as he was the one invited.
Since only half of us were with each other in the Preludes, I think some Description of ourselves is in order too.
See my "The Group" post for a picture of him.
A whistling tune fills the evening air tonight, it was just yesterday that Daeith Amlyn, a tall striking looking Elf recieved word that his friend and former student Lavina needed help with something. Daerith is well over six feet tall, with long cascading bone white hair that hangs to shoulder length around his black garments. The elf is dressed in a fine leather jerkin that is more for show than any sort of armor or protection. A heavy cloak hangs off his shoulders wrapping itself around his waist as he moves. There under his cloak, exposed with every other step is a long curved elven blade. If the scabbard of the weapon is any indication, its a fine weapon, set with elven silver runes, gemstones, and various etchings. A few small pouches, as well as scroll cases dangle from his belt as well, ivory, bone, brass, they knock against one another in a soft tinkling noise that alerts anyone of his coming. He's a fair regular around the Areana, and even visits the taverns there from time to time, perhaps someone might rezognize him as such.
The elven male, pauses at the gates, and looks around at the estate, the gardens seem a bit untended to him, but perhaps his memory is playing games on him. He shrugs and strides forward to the porch to spot two dwarevs already on it. Lavina must truely be in trouble if she's asking the dwarves of Sassarine for help. Or perhaps they are new house servants.
"Good evening!" The elf Daerith offers a wave to the two dwarves, possibly servants of the house. "Daerith Amlyn, to see the Lady Vanderboren, if you would be so kind as to tell her Daerith Amlyn has arrived." He bows slighty at the two, certain now they must be working for the Vanderboren family.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring
Berek's supper begins to churn in his stomach at the sight of the cocky Elf's approach. His bushy dark eyebrows rise so high they come in contact with his crop cut dark hair and the redness of his nose begins to spread towards his cheeks. While he can restrain himself from wretching on the spot he has to try very hard not bark at the Elf's cocky greeting and the fact that he is likely mistaking him and a priestess of Berronar for mere house servants inspires malice in the crooked little Dwarf. He bows politely and with a lavish flurrish gestures towards a little side path leading into some bushes and flashes a grin of yellow teeth towards the Elf. In rough but serious voice he speaks "The lady values secrecy and bade you to use the back entrance if it does not inconvenience you to much fine sir" Berek rises again the smile still playing on his face. The Elf notices the heavy Axe the Dwarf is carrying. Surely he must be a guard, the times have become dangerous.
Dearith pauses as the dwarven guard motions to the path and the rear of the house. That's when the keen elven eyes spot Mrs.Whistlegap standing in the door way. "Truely?" He can't help but not trust the little dwarf with the red nose, Drinking on the job perhaps?, he thinks to himself. Then he begins to whistle, a smile on his face, its some jauntly little dwarven battle hymn that he's had in his head since yesterday's encounter with Mrs.Whistlegap. He's no bard, but the songs in tune enough for anyone familiar with The Hammer and Axe to recongize the tune as something heard preformed there on a regular basis by a Bard named "Lucky John".
Daerith lifts his hands to his head, brushes back his hair up and over his pointy ears and waits a moment for the halfling woman at the door to comment, he also spares a moment to glances behind him to see if Shumba or Lorien are coming.
Noting like some fun little interaction to get things started! Espcially if its not harmful to the party.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring
KOra met you all at the door. So she was the first to see you. And she gave you each the same comment about Lavinia being with you shortly.
The elderly halfling, standing in a small alcove to the the side, flashes a disapproving look at Berek and then looks apologetically at Daerith. "I'm sorry, Mister Amlyn," she says with a tone of slight exasperation. "My mistress had to gather help quickly." She narrows her eyes and looks at Berek again. "I had hoped that those she found would be focused on the job and not petty squabbling." The last is delivered in the tone of a teacher disciplining a student.
Sorry on my side too. You happened to pick on the one person who has ties with Lavinia Vanderboren.
The Dwarfs mood begins to worsen seeing that his little jest led to nothing not even an Elf falling to death of the high cliff or at least a few prickly weeds in his sissyfuss armor. He nods in defeat ignoring the halflings scolding and heads inside hating his life for having to deal with an Elf in order to make money.
Wishing to make a good impression, Shumba spends the rest of the evening and most of the next day preparing himself for dinner with Lady Vanderboren. The rugged half-orc retires for the evening at a reasonable hour and then wakes up early enough to start roaming about town in order to procure himself a gift for the troubled noble. Once business has been concluded and matters are well in hand, Shumba then rents himself a nice hot bath for the day and, despite his better wishes, cleans and grooms himself thoroughly before finally heading out for dinner with his companions.
I figure that a mated pair of songbirds in a common-though-gaudy-looking cage would do nicely as a gift for Mistress Lavinia '€" something colorful and cheery. Songbirds are not in 3.5 Edition, but 2nd Edition rules price them at 10 sp each, so what say we to 5 gp for the pair of songbirds, a tiny cage to house them in, and a nice hot bath '€" tip included? Oh yeah, a bath in 2nd Edition costs 3 cp, if that helps.
Shumba curses the fact that he has allowed himself to soak in the hot bath for so long. Imma gun be late! he thinks to himself as he hurries and scurries his way over towards Vanderboren Manor as best he can. Eventually, Shumba arrives at the Manor just as Daerith and Berek are exchanging rival glances. The rugged half-orc carries with him a small gilded cage, inside of which rests two colorfully-plumed songbirds.
Upon walking into the rather uneasy scene, Shumba quickly ponders. Wow mon! I ain't even been here ten seconds and it already looks like there's gunna be a fight! Awesome mon!
Nevertheless, Shumba continues to stride forth boldly and soon joins Daerith by his side, commenting. "Hey mon, I got here as quick as I could! I even brought the Lady a gift mon!" It is quite obvious to Daerith that Shumba has obviously done his best to try and make himself presentable to the lady, having bathed recently and apparently even taken the time to care about his appearance. Though still rather rugged and rural in appearance, the half-orc looks nothing short of presentable, especially to someone that may prove to be a potential client!
When asked about Lorien's presence, Shumba replies. "I thought he was coming mon, though the past couple o' days, he's been acting rather strange mon!"
When Life Hands You Razorblades. You Make A Baseball Bat Covered In Razorblades!
Espcially if its not harmful to the party.
