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12.03.19

Honor Returns to the Redtails

by Steel Claw

It is the thirteenth day on the river to Bezia.

Tomorrow is hopefully our last day on this wretched river
 
Early in the day we encountered more. damn. rapids. Andre maneuvered our boat well enough to avoid the worst, thank the gods.
 
Around lunchtime we came upon a boat tied off on one of the riverbanks, with a pathway leading into the forest. Andre found a message inside written in dwarvish:
 
"Begin my path / tread it exact
And you and I / shall make a pact
The treasure mine / from many years
Take it away / as well my tears"
 
Though the party largely wanted to avoid this situation, I asked Murg to consult the bones once more. Overwhelmingly, the answer was weal. The footprints, the trail left by whomever, had no scent and was only visible to those that followed the footsteps exactly. It led us to a strange dwarf walking slowly through the forest.
 

A gift from beyond the grave


The dwarf introduced himself as Anvilsmite of Clan Hardrock. He had written the message, hopeful for a dwarf, but instead decided to give some kind of treasure to Murg. He led us to a beautiful glade full of wild violets, and though we learned he was/is spectral (or some kind of dead), he allowed Theo to take some. He was killed by Niveroni slavecatchers, just as the dwarves (of the region) were slaughtered by Niveron and Escaton (because the dwarves were their only real opposition).
 
From beneath the hill of wildflowers, hidden under the earth, we (were directed to) found a beautiful ebony strongbox with immaculate diamond locks. Murg investigated and opened the box to find a seal letter, bloodstained, and a ribbon. Reunited with the letter and the ribbon, Murg seemed to give the dwarf peace (notably from the loss of his daughter Eliza Hardrock). The dwarf, in turn, left us with a veritable hoard of gold and goods in the same lockbox:
 

Providence of purple (hoard)


Inside the strongbox, gifted by the dwarf, we found:
  • 4312 gp = 1200cp + 9000sp + 2400gp + 100pl

  • 8x (25gp) dwarvish micropaintings

    • (200gp total)
    1. r I. scroll of cure wounds
    2. potion of superior healing (r III.)
    3. potion of growth
    4. dust of dryness
     
    The box itself is a dwarven spiritbox, used in dwarven burials. This one in particular could be worth upwards of 500gp
     

    Arrival


    The morning of our last day on the water was a hasty one, as most of us just wanted to be off the water. We stopped as we reached a bay before the plains of Bezia. The rivers ahead were part of the heaviest of fighting (per the Accord), and we chose instead to take to the plains, leaving the boys and their boats behind.
     
    Back upon Dawn, with Theo in the saddle with me, I once again found myself upon the plains of Bezia. It is two days to Bezia on horseback.
     
    The first day passed without incident. We could see Bezia from camp that night.
     
    On the second day, around midday, we spotted forms riding to the east. It was Theo that called out their heading: directly towards us. Izol, using the eyes of his familiar, spoke to/with the riders: Redtail Raiders.
     

    "Bezia is currently under the control of General Sapphire."


     
    Upon mentioning Theobold Hornraven, the tabaxi raiders seemed to become willing to grant us safe passage.
     
    Upon seeing Steel, Platinum Claw (my cousin) pulled his crossbow on Steel (and his allies on Steel's friends). Unsure of what to do in the face of their threats, I (and the party) agreed to follow them to Bezia.

    Continue reading...

    1. To Bezia: Dangerous & Familiar
      10.22.19
    2. To Waylay Arcadia
      10.29.19
    3. As the Gods Watch
      11.12.19
    4. Recap: Riding the River to Bezia
      12.03.19
    5. Honor Returns to the Redtails
      12.03.19
    6. Honor and Innocence
      12.10.19
    7. What Ends & What Begins
      01.07.20
    8. Night Before the Report
      01.14.20
    9. Adrenaline
      01.28.20
    10. Fairytale's End
      02.11.20
    11. CSI: Abominable Charges
      02.25.20
    12. Stones in the Basement
      03.03.20
    13. Saviors
      03.17.20
    14. A Night To Remember
      03.24.20
    15. The End Draws Near
      03.31.20
    16. Black Reckoning
      04.07.20
    17. Argyle's End
      04.10.20
    18. Two and Two
      04.14.20
    19. Concentration
      04.21.20
    20. The Magic in Winter
      04.28.20
    21. Real, Under, Dark: Indrada
      05.12.20
    22. Puzzling the Way Forward
      05.19.20
    23. The Cold Cases
      05.26.20
    24. Band through the Woods
      06.02.20
    25. Cold Claws of Death
      06.09.20
    26. Another Shot in the Dark
      06.16.20
    27. More To Learn
      06.30.20
    28. The Heart of Varunmund
      07.10.20
    29. Arcane Mishap
      07.14.20
    30. The Treasure of Weave-Steel
      07.21.20
    31. Rolling Bones
      07.28.20
    32. A New Land
      08.04.20
    33. Ice and Storm
      08.11.20
    34. Up Rocks
      08.18.20
    35. At the Top of the World
      09.01.20
    36. Beware the Depths
      09.08.20
    37. Granting Repose
      09.15.20
    38. Trial by Crystal
      09.22.20
    39. Cries of the Pained
      09.29.20
    40. Old Friends
      10.06.20
    41. Watch and Tower
      10.13.20
    42. The Death of a Gate and an Alhoon
      10.20.20
    43. Joy in Many a Reunion
      10.27.20
    44. A New Line of Questioning
      01.05.20
    45. Renewing the Offense
      6th of February, 2022
    46. The Last Vanguard
      02.13.22
    47. Portals
      02.20.22
    48. Heed the Changing Winds
      03.13.22
    49. Champions of the Winds
      03.27.22
    50. The Epicenter of Truth
      04.03.22
    51. It Begins Again
      04.10.22
    52. Stratagem to the Winds
      04.24.22
    53. Wet Cat
      05.01.22
    54. Another Hot Time
      05.15.22
    55. The Aegon Assault
      07.31.22
    56. Unfavorably Familiar
      08.07.22
    57. Cloaked in Red
      09.11.22
    58. Forged After War
      09.18.22
    59. Truthseeking
      10.02.22
    60. Two-Parters
      11.12.22
    61. Blade & Bow, Hammer & Axe
      11.20.22
    62. Faith, Truth, and Peace
      11.27.22
    63. Act as you know, and you will never shame me
      12.04.22
    64. The Stringing of the Bow
      01.08.23
    65. A Clashing of Fangs
      01.15.23
    66. Nleyke [v. To Wish]
      01.29.23

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    by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.042 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 14:46, Nov 8 2024