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.
With breakfast complete, Lavinia Vanderboren and her newest team of troubleshooters file into a rented carriage and head off towards towards the High Market in the Noble District. There, they exit the carriage amid shops and stalls that sell the most exclusive goods to the richest people in town. The group then walks to the end of one of the piers that service the market and board a small, but well-appointed, ferry whose ferryman seems to be expecting them. A short ride later brings them to the island that holds Castle Teraknian, the center of power for the city of Sasserine, and the only place not in any of the city's seven districts.
Lavinia leads the group up to the castle's entrance, where a guard checks her identity, but otherwise shows no concern. He ushers Lavinia into a small office where a clerk again verifies her identity as well as her possession of the proper signet ring. The clerk emerges with Lavinia and leads you all to a spiral staircase going down. The stairs lead to a large circular chamber beneath the castle with over a dozen narrow hallways leading out of it. Each of the hallways is about ten feet long and ends in a single iron door. Coats of arms and other runes clearly decorate the doors. And a reflection of light shows that metal plaques have been placed above each of the doors. But none are readable at this distance and in this light.
The clerk moves over to one hallway without hesitation and points towards the door at the end. "Lady Vanderboren," he says, "your family vault is down this passage. There is a small depression above the handle of the door. You place the signet ring there to open the door." He gives Lavinia a smile and a bow. "Now if there is nothing else, I shall give you some privacy to tend to your vault."
W2 is the High Market, and Castle Teraknian is the big edifice on the island. This is in the NE part of the city, right near the harbor entrance.
Feel free to back post anything about the drive or the ferry ride.
The clerk will depart back up the stairs unless anyone has questions for him.
Last edited by Trogdor on Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:47 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Daerith smiles out of the window of the carriage watching the houses and shops pass by. He exits and helps Lavina down from the carriage with a light touch. Then he goes silent until the group arrives down in the vault area. His hands on his sword, which remaisn in his belt, he looks around the area. Idly he walks close enough to read one of the plaques, then gazes at the other ones reading them outloud for everyone to hear. "Some security here, this should certainly deter thieves from trying to rob the rich huh?"
"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
Shumba remains totally silent during his time with Lady Vanderboren and the others. Never before has the young huntsman seen such a well-guarded structure as Castle Teraknian and does not wish to have any of his typical antics reflecting poorly upon the good lady's name. Instead, the squalid half-orc merely keeps his head lowered and his gaze upon the surroundings about him, making well enough sure that the group is not followed by anyone or anything suspicious.
When Life Hands You Razorblades. You Make A Baseball Bat Covered In Razorblades!
Sorry for the lack of posting folks, I pulled three seventeen hour days this week.
Lucky John says little more after greeting his compatriots in the morning, instead choosing to whistle a soft ballad quietly while watching the city pass by in the early morning light. It is not until they are at the doors to the vault that he speaks out. "Mythical creatures be damned were's the challenge Miss Vanderboren? I almost feel as though the note had no meaning"...
It is with great joy that Berek takes in the sight from outside and inside of Castle Terkanen and the Vaults lying within which are a marvel to behold for anyone and especially a Dwarf. It appears he is a bit lost in thought and tags behind the remainder of the group adoring the stonemasonry until they arrive at the family vault, where his skills might come in handy.
Sorry that my computer troubles and class yesterday slowed things down. Hopefully we'll get this back to its proper speed now.
With no one posing any questions, the clerk quickly departs up the stairs, leaving you all here alone. Daerith pokes his head down a few of the corridors, shedding enough light from a lantern to read a few of the names over the other doors: "Islaran, Lorchester, Taskerhill, Arabani, ..." The names of the most powerful families in the city.
As he does so, Lavinia advances down the corridor to the Vanderboren vault. The short passageway ends at a solid-looking iron door. The portal is emblazoned with a single rune - an eight-pointed star. Above the door, inscribed in flowing script on a polished silver plaque, is the name "Vanderboren." A single handle protrudes from the door, just below a circular depression bearing the mark of the Vanderboren signet. She comes to a stop before the sturdy door and raises the hand with the signet ring. "The challenge should be just past this door," she says. "This leads to my family vault; any defenses we have should be inside."
Then Lavinia makes a fist with her hand and places the signet ring in the depression, pulling down on the handle with her other hand. The door flashes for just a second with a blue light, then opens with a click. Lavinia pushes the door and it swings open on creaky hinges. She breathes a sigh of relief and gestures inside. "The way is open," she says. "I'll let the professionals go first."
I've lined you up behind Lavinia in a rough order. But since this isn't combat, you can pass each other freely. It's not a fixed order.
You recognize this symbol. It appears on the sign of a building on the western edge of the Merchant's District called the Seeker's Lodge. It's the regional base of a world-spanning group of adventurers and treasure hunters known as the Seekers.
"Aye girls then let a professional do his job!" Berek boasts before stepping into the crypt. After fiddling with his belt a bit he draws forth a toolkit containing an arsotement of picks, dietrichs and draws forth an odd pair off goggleswhich he places on his nose before advancing into the dark motioning for the others to stay back. After standing still for a moment the Dwarf falls quickly to his knees and carefully examines one of the floor tiles before rising again and advancing slowly one step at a time.
Go in begin to search for any irregularities that might indicate traps or secret doors and let others join once an area seems safe. Berek should have a plus 2 bonus to the respective roll thanks to stone cunning.
It doesn't take a genius to realize that the symbol upon the door holds some form of significance. Nevertheless, its meaning is lost upon Shumba. Somewhat nervous, the muscular half-orc eventually inquires. "Lady Vanderboren, did your parents ever speak of their vault? I mean, do you know if it is actually guarded, and if so, by what?"
When Life Hands You Razorblades. You Make A Baseball Bat Covered In Razorblades!
"They never spoke about it directly," she replies, "except to mention that we had one. But I did overhear a few things over the years. Based on what I heard, I understand that it's small, but secure. And I have a feeling that it's either trapped or guarded."
