tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148451002024-03-28T18:27:52.861-05:00Wombat's Gaming Den of IniquityWombat's GM and gaming advice/ideas/theories/rants/raves<br>plus all associated theory, twaddle, stuff, and nonsense.Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.comBlogger529125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-30041403132663712102024-03-28T15:32:00.042-05:002024-03-28T18:27:19.686-05:00The Dragontouched<p>Kobolds breed and mature quickly compared to humans. As such, mutations happen more often per year on average. One of the more common mutations causes a pair of leathery wings to grow out of the kobold's back, giving them the power to glide or, if they practice with them long enough, the power to fly.</p><p>Other kobolds don't appreciate their winged kin, feeling jealous that these mutants can fly when they can't. Many die at the hands of jealous tribemates during puberty, when the wings fully develop. Many others find the Dragontouched, a group of winged kobolds bound together by religious zeal and clarity of purpose. They want the dragons to return to Beneterra, and they keep the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/03/prophecy-breath-of-recurring-scale.html">Breath of the Recurring Scale</a> prophecy alive, constantly consulting auguries and searching for the people to open the portal.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>The dragons left Beneterra five centuries before, so the Dragontouched have been around for at least that long to care for the prophecy. They all know some magic, whether that's a single cantrip, a shaman's limited selection, or a full wizard's spellbook. Many study the magical arts, but all know about the prophecy. They stand ready to assist their greater cousins when they return.<p></p><p>Rumors speak of a central temple, well-hidden on a remote mountaintop, where the Dragontouched keep a library containing the original vellum copy of the prophecy. Most members never see it nor the temple, preferring to act as untouchable groups of shamans among normal kobold tribes. Dragontouched provide great value to a tribe, though they still operate outside the normal bounds of kobold society.</p><p>Dragontouched tend to live longer than other kobolds, with some reaching 250 years of age. They know they contain the blood of dragons, and they await the return of the dragons to awaken new powers in them. Whether these convictions hold true remains to be seen. Dragontouched and Pale Children (albino kobolds) have worked together in the past to hasten the dragons' return, though the loss of Whitecliff, the Pale Children's village in the shadow of <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/03/dragon-peak.html">Dragon Peak</a>, has limited their reach and visibility.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-24808895161112153652024-03-27T20:29:00.001-05:002024-03-27T20:29:17.056-05:00The Urchins<p>Kids and teenagers tend to know the street-level secrets of Fellport, and they tend to get in trouble. The Urchins have been around officially for at least 50 years, and probably much longer. The older Urchins teach the younger about what information to give away, what to charge for, how much to charge, and how to ditch troublesome employers. Many also learn stealth and disguise skills, or at least how to act in different neighborhoods.</p><p>Urchins don't have any solid hierarchy, but everyone knows who to talk to when trouble comes knocking. An Urchin in trouble with the law have surprised the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/05/the-fellport-council.html">Fellport Council</a> on more than one occasion with a high-priced lawyer coming to the youth's defense. Anyone stupid enough to raise hands against an Urchin will find themselves robbed blind. If they continue coming after Urchins, they'll wake up naked outside the city gates, all their worldly possessions permanently lost. Or framed for murder and swinging from <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/execution-wharf.html">Execution Wharf</a>.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Information flows like water in the group, and new slang comes and goes to keep anyone who thinks they know Thieves' Cant on their toes. Information about newcomers and big shipments flows up the hierarchy to be sold to another group in town, usually The Lakeside Six, but Newfair tends to offer better prices for juicy secrets. Sometimes the Urchins decide to make a big score and lay low for a while, like that chest of diamond dust they sold to the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/divinity-sanctum.html">Divinity Sanctum</a> for an obscene (but still discounted) price a couple of years back, but it's much safer to let the adult thieves take all the risk and just take a small cut.<p></p><p>Urchins offer themselves as tour guides, asking a few pennies or a silver for directions through the safer sections of town. Some develop specialties in the type of person they work for, and in the type of information they gather and trade. Merchants are popular marks, as they don't tend to stay long and they plan for thieves to take a percentage of what they transport.</p><p>Many Urchins forge friendships with other groups in town, hiring themselves out for information gathering, courier services, or other errands. Smart members of the Fellport Watch make sure to have at least one friendly Urchin on the payroll, just for the heads up about any big scores or intra-guild political conflicts coming up. Even the clerics in the Divinity Sanctum hires Urchins to gather supplies or deliver messages. Many Urchins compete to hang around the Sanctum just in case they're needed.</p><p>Urchins tend to "graduate" in a few ways. They could convince one of the other thieves' guilds in town to let them join. The Six and the Minders usually take new recruits from the Urchins when they're old enough, but Newfair tends to hire more selectively. They could go straight and find someone to apprentice with. Merchants and craftsmen will take talent where they can find it, and the Watch likes hiring talented locals who know the city inside and out. Or they could find their fortunes elsewhere, hiring onto a ship's crew, guarding a caravan, or becoming adventurers. Whatever path they choose, they start adulthood with a network of associates and friends to help them get ahead.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br style="font-size: small;" /><span style="font-size: small;">For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex" style="font-size: small;">Fellport Index</a><span style="font-size: small;">. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex" style="font-size: small;">Beneterra Index</a><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-67476352275597836972024-03-25T22:59:00.001-05:002024-03-25T22:59:32.564-05:00The Rumor Mill - Week 12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHHedf9_izqH5FWEwfE7eSKQMx0zlCf4GD5viwxEWDt7lBHWNX_XZq0o_51x86o5S1Y1_KheFLHY0NLGUNNEGf-pAdREgUTjkpVQANXT8Gn2gLt1FG0vDwmdEHaXCECnuPZGe2KE_uQYDNJC4GJ4nffVxsccvoYBi6vhGGpWPgbxUIdaG5GEH/s150/Lore%2024%20Black%20on%20White.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHHedf9_izqH5FWEwfE7eSKQMx0zlCf4GD5viwxEWDt7lBHWNX_XZq0o_51x86o5S1Y1_KheFLHY0NLGUNNEGf-pAdREgUTjkpVQANXT8Gn2gLt1FG0vDwmdEHaXCECnuPZGe2KE_uQYDNJC4GJ4nffVxsccvoYBi6vhGGpWPgbxUIdaG5GEH/s1600/Lore%2024%20Black%20on%20White.png" width="150" /></a></div><p>So week 12 of The Rumor Mill came out a little late. PAX East took a good chunk of my attention this past week, so I'm hardly surprised that writing took a back seat. I walked about 40,000 steps in three days (almost 19 miles), and that was just the convention center, the hotel, and a couple of extremely close restaurants. I managed to go walking today (Monday), and that got the wheels turning...</p><div><p>Transportation rumors fill the list this week. Most people in Fellport walk or ride carts pulled by horses or oxen, and the harbor bustles with boats coming from and going to all corners of the Sea of Sorrows. The Longstrider's Guild maintains the network of teleportation circles around the world, so the wealthy can access distant lands and speed up trade and communication. What other means of travel will we find? </p><span><a name='more'></a></span><table align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black; width: 633.641px;"><tbody><tr style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black;"><th style="width: 29.125px;"><b>1d8</b></th><th style="width: 535.75px;">Rumor</th><th style="width: 60.7656px;">True?</th></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>1</td><td>A new clipper ship just docked at Fellport, the <i>Don Fernando</i> from Andalusia.</td><td>Yes<sup>1</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>2</td><td>The Longstrider's Guild will teleport you anywhere for 100 gp per person.</td><td>Maybe<sup>2</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>3</td><td>Magically propelled carts will be everywhere in the next two years.</td><td>No<sup>3</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>4</td><td>Fellport's stone streets destroy boots. Local cobblers get overwhelmed quickly.</td><td>Maybe<sup>4</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>5</td><td>Topside Stables are the largest in Fellport, and they have all manner of mounts.</td><td>Yes<sup>5</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>6</td><td>Tunnels crisscross under Fellport, allowing hidden travel across the city.</td><td>Maybe<sup>6</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>7</td><td>Fellport doesn't maintain cavalry troops, making road security challenging.</td><td>No<sup>7</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>8</td><td>If you need cart repairs, go to Smythiel on Level 15. They'll fix you quickly.</td><td>Yes<sup>8</sup></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">1 - This is Fellport's first Clipper ship. They prioritize speed and cargo over defense, and they have many sails on tall masts.<br />2 - The Longstrider's Guild commonly charges a minimum of 100 gp for established routes. Dangerous territory costs extra.<br />3 - Labor is far too cheap for a magical solution to take off. Nobody is even developing a magic cart for public use right now.<br />4 - Fellport has more cobblers than normal to handle the load. Some cobblers occasionally provide safe houses for Urchins.<br />5 - They maintain pastures outside of the city to let the horses run free. Noryx Croptail buys, sells, and rents mounts.<br />6 - Between the sewers, the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/01/the-lift.html">Lift</a>, and the Raceway, plenty of tunnels exist, but they provide limited access and destinations.<br />7 - The Fellport Watch has a company of cavalry for crowd control, and the Border Rovers patrol the roads on horseback.<br />8 - Run by Coryn Smyth, a strong Hominae Vitae man, and Bella Thiel, a Mountain Dwarf woman sworn to the Forgefather.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.<br /></span></span></p></div>
Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-21090076443528096632024-03-19T23:28:00.001-05:002024-03-19T23:28:23.023-05:00Dragon Peak: Trial of Earth (Level 1)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhJTpj5mdGIWsDCl0VPCnoh8tMz22RLQRWVH55qHGdQQCohL1FhRVRYPjYZwTty6lIdGJ0Ho-GRK1F27UhDH9EV-s718nvUyWPDmdQPsUhhYOfc4lq1Tadc_3KYvtcpZ-92lRhuWPe5eZei7dz-WKFJj2lgPX1cYlsLi7OeSQsRKBBibIcMbV/s2048/Dragon%20Peak%20Trial%20of%20Earth%20Med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1583" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhJTpj5mdGIWsDCl0VPCnoh8tMz22RLQRWVH55qHGdQQCohL1FhRVRYPjYZwTty6lIdGJ0Ho-GRK1F27UhDH9EV-s718nvUyWPDmdQPsUhhYOfc4lq1Tadc_3KYvtcpZ-92lRhuWPe5eZei7dz-WKFJj2lgPX1cYlsLi7OeSQsRKBBibIcMbV/w154-h200/Dragon%20Peak%20Trial%20of%20Earth%20Med.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>The stairs up from the entry level end on a sizable landing. Especially paranoid characters may feel like someone watches them on the landing. Letters inlaid in white onyx on the floor spell out "Trial Of Earth" in Draconic, acting as a perverse welcome mat.<p></p><p>An archway opens onto a plain of broken rock and sand, with a battle raging as far as the eye can see. Demons, devils, aberrations, giants, humanoids, and dragons fight and die only to rise again and rejoin the battle. Tiamat circles the battlefield and uses her variety of breath weapons to indiscriminately kill. Broken equipment, body parts, and blood cover the ground. Giant hands made of stone appear to reach up through the stone, and the jagged rocks make walking treacherous. Shadow and gloom darken the scene under a leaden sky, the eternal night broken only sporadically with flashes of magic detonations and dragon breath.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Anyone passing through the arch becomes visible to the combatants, opening them to 1-3 attacks per round. Each successful attack inflicts a handful of cold damage and removes a point of strength. Anyone entering the battlefield can see the scene extend past the arch, as if it might actually be a portal to somewhere else, and they see no obvious way out of the battlefield.<p></p><p>The endless plain and combatants come from elaborate illusion magic, hiding the walls and the dozens of shadows hiding in the floor or using the illusory warriors for cover to attack anyone foolish enough to enter the room. The shadows will die if hit hard enough, but the chamber contains over 20 of these creatures. The illusion fades if all the shadows are defeated or held at bay. A <i>daylight</i> spell or equivalent magic will force the shadows to hide in the floor and suppress the illusion, revealing the walls and the door on the opposite wall.</p><p>My original notes for this chamber:<br /></p><p align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">An eternal battlefield on a
stony plain at night. Illusory warriors attack as Tiamat circles and
breathes at random. Demons, aberrations, and devils lead endless
charges. Shadows in the floor reach out and sap strength. Daylight
will eliminate them.</span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Things that evolved during play:</span></p><p></p><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>See invisible</i> reveals the walls, the illusions of the fighters, and the shadows lurking in the floors. It also reveals the invisible kobold lich in ghost form lurking in the ceiling watching the party deal with the trials. He gave the party the hint to look at the prophecy, since they received a copy so long ago that it slipped their minds.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Perception checks might reveal that visible attacks don't actually cause damage, but the hidden shadows do. Failure will reinforce the illusion.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I went fast and loose with the shadows, giving them a +4 to attacks for 2d6 cold damage plus the point of strength loss. My players discovered the <i>daylight</i> trick after they discovered the illusions and shadows.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Defeating each trial will earn the party a white stone with an alchemical symbol, needed to unlock the door after the fifth trial (Moonlight). I initially forgot to do this, so I had all five appear simultaneously after solving the Trial of Moonlight.</span></li></ul><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br style="font-size: small;" /><span style="font-size: small;">For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex" style="font-size: small;">Fellport Index</a><span style="font-size: small;">. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex" style="font-size: small;">Beneterra Index</a><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-21998524660626360262024-03-18T22:17:00.002-05:002024-03-19T17:06:29.459-05:00Dragon Peak: Entry Level<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_ICLk5dq35WhEIIiLkL0LgUhpCmMkF3CJSTPIOAQ7UaXcwsNFPNb680p0huZuMxBWB4mEPxq0ZsDkeka-rTDTiOKXKjsBiExkTEulS0pHnbiu0q1QL768bbcIGLCvONr8PoxidEqN-eGB7bSMT3lWx0auy7q-ohGpm4RkOb8sVajgOD22hU4/s2048/Dragon%20Peak%20Entry%20Med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1583" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_ICLk5dq35WhEIIiLkL0LgUhpCmMkF3CJSTPIOAQ7UaXcwsNFPNb680p0huZuMxBWB4mEPxq0ZsDkeka-rTDTiOKXKjsBiExkTEulS0pHnbiu0q1QL768bbcIGLCvONr8PoxidEqN-eGB7bSMT3lWx0auy7q-ohGpm4RkOb8sVajgOD22hU4/w154-h200/Dragon%20Peak%20Entry%20Med.jpg" width="154" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entry Level Map</td></tr></tbody></table>Under the glacier next to Dragon Peak, a twelve foot tall stone double door provides entry into the mountain. The door has images of tree trunks carved into it, realistically mimicking a dense forest with textured bark and the occasional knot. One of the knots goes a little deeper than the rest, and if a dragonborn inserts a hand into the hole, the door will quietly swing open.</p><p>A round room fifty feet in diameter lies beyond the door, its walls carved to look like an old elven forest. The ceiling twenty feet above looks like a canopy of leaves blocking out the sky above. The rotted remains of a long wooden table pile up near the similarly-sized door opposite the entry. Two smaller doors provide egress through the side walls.</p><p>Examining the carved walls reveals deep knots carved into the walls for the smaller doors, but the larger door has none. The carving itself seems like an elven design with its eye for realistic detail, but the elegant workmanship feels very dwarven. The remains of the table show evidence of a braided ivy border detail and carved writing in three languages: Draconic, Gladlam (Elven), and Steinrede (Dwarven). Sharp-eyed and lucky investigators may piece together the words five, trials, prophecy, and scale, but the wood has rotted over the past 500 years and utterly obliterated any further words.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>The left door will open for a dwarf inserting a hand into the knothole, and the right door will similarly open for an elf. The left room's walls were carved in the traditional dwarven style with straight lines and geometric regularity, mostly involving equilateral triangles and diamond shapes. The right room continues the forest motif from the circular room. Both rooms contain a plain stone couch that once held cushions, a long line of stone pegs on the wall opposite the circular room for hanging cloaks, and a door with no visible means of opening.<p></p>Investigation reveals one of the pegs in each room hides a trigger mechanism which will open the door to reveal the corridor beyond. Further investigation reveals a knothole on the wall to the circular room side (a diamond shape in the dwarven room) which will trigger when a dwarven (on the left) or elven (on the right) hand is inserted into the hole. These open the doors to the final room on this level, but on the opposite sides (the dwarven trigger opens the door on the elven side, and vice versa). If both sides are triggered simultaneously (or within 1-5 minutes depending on how lenient you want to be), the large door in the circular chamber will swing open between the circular room and the final room.<p></p><p>The magic circles in the corridors contain words in Gladlam or Steinrede like safety, feathers, lifting, and flight. They will safely lift or lower an object or person as a permanent <i>levitation</i> or <i>feather fall</i> effect between the lower level and a mezzanine room above containing several arrow slits allowing missile fire into the circular room through carved knotholes at least 12 feet off the ground.</p><p>The final room contains two permanent torches which light a sparse room. An inlay in white onyx spells out "The Five Trials Await" in Draconic. A wide staircase leads upward, circling to the left as it climbs.</p><p><i>Note: There's not much here, just a puzzle that speaks of dwarves and elves working together to open the way for those with dragon blood, and a possible hint about paying attention to the prophecy. This might not jibe with what the characters know about dragon relations with elves and dwarves, but then again, this complex was built by a silver dragon patron of the arts. In my game, I started a 5-minute timer when the party triggered the elven side, and by the time they got to the dwarven side, the timer went off, so they barely saw the door to the final room close, which confused them for a while. Classic.</i></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p><p></p><br />Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-1968332057707764912024-03-17T16:09:00.001-05:002024-03-17T16:09:11.915-05:00The Rumor Mill - Week 11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHHedf9_izqH5FWEwfE7eSKQMx0zlCf4GD5viwxEWDt7lBHWNX_XZq0o_51x86o5S1Y1_KheFLHY0NLGUNNEGf-pAdREgUTjkpVQANXT8Gn2gLt1FG0vDwmdEHaXCECnuPZGe2KE_uQYDNJC4GJ4nffVxsccvoYBi6vhGGpWPgbxUIdaG5GEH/s150/Lore%2024%20Black%20on%20White.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHHedf9_izqH5FWEwfE7eSKQMx0zlCf4GD5viwxEWDt7lBHWNX_XZq0o_51x86o5S1Y1_KheFLHY0NLGUNNEGf-pAdREgUTjkpVQANXT8Gn2gLt1FG0vDwmdEHaXCECnuPZGe2KE_uQYDNJC4GJ4nffVxsccvoYBi6vhGGpWPgbxUIdaG5GEH/s1600/Lore%2024%20Black%20on%20White.png" width="150" /></a></div><p>Gather 'round and watch (pun intended) for week 11 of The Rumor Mill, which contains rumors about the Fellport Watch. The Reserves train weekly, forging the volunteer citizen militia into a reasonably competent fighting force. The full-time Watchfolk train intensively in techniques for crowd control, siege resistance, scam identification, conflict de-escalation, and boarding party repulsion. Watchfolk serve for 8-10 hours per day, then either return home ("Part-Timers") or to assigned barracks built into Fellport's walls ("Lifers").</p><div><div><p>Let's find out what people say about these mostly-unappreciated city defenders.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><table align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black; width: 633.641px;"><tbody><tr style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black;"><th style="width: 29.125px;"><b>1d8</b></th><th style="width: 535.75px;">Rumor</th><th style="width: 60.7656px;">True?</th></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>1</td><td>Watch members typically train with axes, glaives, halberds, pikes, and spears.</td><td>Yes<sup>1</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>2</td><td>All Watchfolk typically run the Cliff Walk at dawn every day.</td><td>Maybe<sup>2</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>3</td><td>Joining the Watch and bucking for leadership roles are an easy path to a Lordship.</td><td>No<sup>3</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>4</td><td>The Watch uniform consists of scale mail, crossbow, battle axe, spear, and shield.</td><td>Maybe<sup>4</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>5</td><td>The Watch pays full-time smiths, but they occasionally hire freelancers to help.</td><td>Yes<sup>5</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>6</td><td>People can hire Watchfolk for caravan or ship security, and do so regularly.</td><td>Maybe<sup>6</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>7</td><td>Wizards and clerics typically don't join the Watch. They're too valuable elsewhere.</td><td>No<sup>7</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>8</td><td>The city walls hold stocks of alchemist's fire, caltrops, and <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/arrow-of-grounding.html">arrows of grounding</a>.</td><td>Yes<sup>8</sup></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">1 - Polearms and spears help repel wall climbers and boarding parties, and axes will cut through ladders and ropes in a siege.<br />2 - Most recruits run the Cliff Walk at some point daily as part of basic training, downhill first if they're being punished.<br />3 - A few recruit-to-nobility stories circulate to give the rest of the Watch hope, but even the privileged know it's far from easy.<br />4 - The uniform is technically a tabard with the city's crescent and two towers design, but this is a common equipment load.<br />5 - Watch weapons and armor demand consistency in design, but it's very steady drudge work for decent pay if you can get it.<br />6 - Members of the Watch can take leave and act as temporary mercenaries, but only the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/05/the-fellport-council.html">Council</a> assigns squads outside the city.<br />7 - The Watch maintains a recruitment presence at the College, and the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/divinity-sanctum.html">Divinity Sanctum</a> trades healing for security patrols.<br />8 - The Watch especially covets grounding arrows, as Fellport has no air defenses outside of ballistae and crossbows.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p></div></div>
Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-49045921341765368372024-03-13T22:30:00.001-05:002024-03-13T22:51:49.447-05:00Prophecy: Breath of the Recurring Scale<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefc6nbSnqt1JpFtshNk8cPFc-n5zzFyy2v8bHhr7WP99DQmk5OEwscAfVPkLYLTVfjAAkr5aR-lGW9hPbnl72liuZy7mG0repvx4FNrHfHhhKxZ6wt_hzStfIzzNFiwDei2h6e1y4Flz5nUDgRMqLK5zWHwLXlm3JzM0sEbAjuKfuio7-aBJn/s2279/FiveCouplets.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1720" data-original-width="2279" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefc6nbSnqt1JpFtshNk8cPFc-n5zzFyy2v8bHhr7WP99DQmk5OEwscAfVPkLYLTVfjAAkr5aR-lGW9hPbnl72liuZy7mG0repvx4FNrHfHhhKxZ6wt_hzStfIzzNFiwDei2h6e1y4Flz5nUDgRMqLK5zWHwLXlm3JzM0sEbAjuKfuio7-aBJn/w200-h151/FiveCouplets.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The handout I made<br />for Sunday's game</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Dragontouched, a cult of mystic winged kobolds, maintain a prophecy called the Breath of the Recurring Scale. This prophecy lies at the heart of their faith, and they travel the world looking for adventuring groups that fit the descriptions mentioned in the middle couplets. The elder Dragontouched mystics keep refining the prophecy through vision quests.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A little background: Dragons left Beneterra 500 years ago. The kobolds left behind view themselves as relatives. They want the dragons to return, so they use the prophecy to look for the party who will open the gate and bring the dragons back. The Dragontouched believe that the Breath of the Recurring Scale provides enough information to identify the people who will open the gate. The Dragontouched don't know about the trials at <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/03/dragon-peak.html">Dragon Peak</a>, though they know that pilgrims could petition Shaxalar for an audience when she lived there.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">The text of the prophecy reads as follows:</span><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Almendra SC;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The
days grow bare, the blood runs thin.<br /><span> </span>The faithful keep Scale’s lore
for kin.<br />When Dragon’s flight in memories dim,<br /><span> </span>The door unlocks,
they rush back in.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Almendra SC;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Drakes return, both bad and good.<br /><span> </span>Destroying
town, protecting wood.<br />Two-sided coin, Last Sentry’s hood,<br /><span> </span>The
Heroes Rise, not “can” but “should”?</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Almendra SC;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Son of Earth, in
Water Lost;<br /><span> </span>He Touches Dark and Wields Sunlight.<br />The Child of Glades,
a Flowing Shade;<br /><span> </span>Provides the key and counts the cost.<br />The Summoned
Thought, with Mantle Bright;<br /><span> </span>From Objects takes Profound Advice.<br />The
Orphan Drake, of Flaming Ice;<br /><span> </span>Uncertain, Forceful, Unafraid.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Almendra SC;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">They
gather from across the land<br /><span> </span>The foursome forge a fearsome band.<br />At
temple’s peak with glass’s sand,<br /><span> </span>They reach the gate with
outstretch’d hand.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Almendra SC"; font-size: 12pt;">The Guardian’s challenge overcome,<br /><span> </span>The
moment’s poignance strikes them dumb.<br />Both right and evil made
welcome,<br /><span> </span>And crossing through, War beats its drum.<br />Revive our
greatness at great cost,<br /><span> </span>Or lock the gate and let it fend?<br />Wond’rous
thunder, bereft and lost?<br /><span> </span>Or Scales set free to burn and rend?</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Almendra SC"; font-size: 12pt;">This
Braid of Truth comes to its end.<br /><span> </span>Our future’s face on them depend. </span></p><p>If the party meets the Dragontouched during their travels, they may have access to this version of the prophecy. However, this version is incomplete. In the second trial at Dragon Peak, a scroll tube contains the middle couplets with the hidden fifth couplet:</p><p style="break-before: page; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Almendra SC;"><span>The
Son of Earth, in Water Lost;<br /></span></span></p><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Almendra SC;"><span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>Touches
Dark and Wields Sunlight.</span></span></span></div><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Almendra SC;"><span>The
Child of Glades, a Flowing Shade;<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Almendra SC";"><span> </span>Provides
the key and counts the cost.</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Almendra SC;"><span>The
Summoned Thought, with Mantle Bright;<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Almendra SC";"><span> </span>From
Objects takes Profound Advice.</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Almendra SC;"><span>The
Orphan Drake, of Flaming Ice;<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Almendra SC";"><span> </span>Uncertain,
Forceful, Unafraid.</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Almendra SC;"><span>The
Twilight’s Ward, in Moonlight Thrive;<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Almendra SC";"> Unseen
by Seers, Keeps Hope Alive.</span></p><p>These couplets provide hints on how to solve the five trials at Dragon Peak.</p><p><i>Note: These couplets were composed with my current PCs firmly in mind. Yes, I gained a new player after the party had gotten a copy of the prophecy, so I added a fifth couplet "Unseen by Seers". And that totally fits, because she's a Twilight Cleric. It's a major plotline in my game since one of the characters is the last Dragonborn (and also an airheaded teen Sorcerer with Brass and Silver dragon influences coursing through her veins). They're at the gate with other parties who signed the Pact of Isolation, and we'll see what happens when the accusations start flying next game.</i></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-78331571443047636432024-03-11T13:36:00.091-05:002024-03-13T22:32:09.607-05:00Dragon Peak<p>Far in the northwestern mountains stands a steep and sheer peak next to a glacier flowing off a cliff into a valley. Here the silver dragon Shaxalar made her lair, and here the dragons departed this world five centuries ago. A huge gate filled with shimmering liquid magic stands open within the lair, leading to the plane of dragons, guarded by an elderly dragonborn ranger names Sheridan and his pseudodragon companions.</p><p>Dragonborn started dying out after the dragons left. The bloodlines grew thin once the draconic influence left Beneterra. Ionian scientists identified the draconic marker in blood samples and noticed its remarkable absence around 200 years ago.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>The mountain earned the name Dragon Peak from the residents of Drakammer, the nearby dwarven village known for raising goats and mining. Whitecliff Road leads from Drakammer to Dragon Peak. Halfway between the two lies the village of Whitecliff, an encampment of albino kobolds who call themselves the Pale Children. The glacier grew around Whitecliff over the past 150 years or so, buried under a twisted spire of ice rising from the glacier, which also wiped out the road from the village to the mountain, leaving the trek to crazed adventure seekers.<p></p><p>Shaxalar's lair starts with a large (and very trapped) landing cave sheltered from the elements and intended for flying creatures like dragons. An audience chamber lies beyond, hiding entrances to a multi-level underground complex designed for a garrison of several hundred troops. A room containing a teleport circle opens onto the audience chamber, and hidden guard posts overlook all of these spaces.</p><p>The huge gate occupies one wall of the audience chamber, built up by artisans with non-functional decoration, as the gate doesn't need any support to remain open. If the mountain ever falls, the gate would remain open, floating above the rubble. The area around Dragon Peak has been remarkably stable over the centuries, except for the sporadic crash of the glacier calving into the valley below.</p><p>Shaxalar spent most of her riches to support artists and performers. A 200-seat theater with stage and dressing rooms exists in the complex, right next to an artist's studio, an art and sculpture gallery, and a research library dedicated to tomes of art history. Most of the artifacts and books found other homes after Shaxalar's death, either intentionally or through unrepentant permanent borrowing.</p><p>Rumors abound of a series of trials accessible through a door at the base of the mountain, now covered by the glacier. Anyone who wanted an audience with Shaxalar would undertake these trials to test character before being allowed to see the Silver Drake. A few say that the trials were modified after Shaxalar's death to be more deadly, both to protect the gate and to test the dragonborn called to be guardians of the gate. Rumors warn that any potential guardians would need two sponsors to unlock the trials, one with elven blood and one with dwarven blood. The Dragontouched, a cult of mystic-minded winged kobolds, maintain a prophecy (<a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/03/prophecy-breath-of-recurring-scale.html">The Breath of the Recurring Scale</a>) which contains hints to help potential guardians through the trials.</p><p><i>Note: I just ran my group through the Trials of Dragon Peak yesterday. I'll post the maps, handouts, and guidelines I used for it here at some point soon. I built it for five specific 6th level PCs, but it's puzzle-heavy and easily scalable to higher levels. It could work as low as 3rd level as long as the party has access to abilities or items that solve the trials, but I wouldn't want to scale the incidental damage rolls down much more than that. Surprisingly, they made it through the five trials and the puzzle to unlock the door in a single 4-hour session, and it felt like the best and tightest game I've run in a while, so I'm happy.</i></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-64078283180842799412024-03-10T10:41:00.001-05:002024-03-10T10:41:27.008-05:00The Rumor Mill - Week 10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHHedf9_izqH5FWEwfE7eSKQMx0zlCf4GD5viwxEWDt7lBHWNX_XZq0o_51x86o5S1Y1_KheFLHY0NLGUNNEGf-pAdREgUTjkpVQANXT8Gn2gLt1FG0vDwmdEHaXCECnuPZGe2KE_uQYDNJC4GJ4nffVxsccvoYBi6vhGGpWPgbxUIdaG5GEH/s150/Lore%2024%20Black%20on%20White.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHHedf9_izqH5FWEwfE7eSKQMx0zlCf4GD5viwxEWDt7lBHWNX_XZq0o_51x86o5S1Y1_KheFLHY0NLGUNNEGf-pAdREgUTjkpVQANXT8Gn2gLt1FG0vDwmdEHaXCECnuPZGe2KE_uQYDNJC4GJ4nffVxsccvoYBi6vhGGpWPgbxUIdaG5GEH/s1600/Lore%2024%20Black%20on%20White.png" width="150" /></a></div><p>Welcome to week 10 of The Rumor Mill, which serves to keep me on track with Lore24. I have posted nothing else this week, partially because I've been prepping maps and props for today's Fellport game. I have a few articles mostly written, but I haven't had the focus available to polish and publish them. And with Daylight Savings time starting this morning with its usual week-long period of disorientation, I don't foresee writing much of anything useful this week either. It seems like every March things fall apart for me - I did the same thing with City23 last year about this time. But as long as the rumors flow, I'll stay on track. So here we go.</p><div><div><p>I don't have a central theme for today's list of rumors. I'm OK with that.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><table align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black; width: 633.641px;"><tbody><tr style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black;"><th style="width: 29.125px;"><b>1d8</b></th><th style="width: 535.75px;">Rumor</th><th style="width: 60.7656px;">True?</th></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>1</td><td>Fellport claims the land within 2 days' ride of the city as part of its holdings.</td><td>Yes<sup>1</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>2</td><td>The Okulari invaded and occupied Fellport back in Imperial times.</td><td>Maybe<sup>2</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>3</td><td>Membership in the Fellport Watch Reserves is mandatory for every resident.</td><td>No<sup>3</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>4</td><td>Ancient ziggurats lie buried across Beneterra, a testament to the old gods.</td><td>Maybe<sup>4</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>5</td><td>Every day seems like a holy day to some god or another in Fellport.</td><td>Yes<sup>5</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>6</td><td>The Hills neighborhood on Level 5 showcases Dunhill archaeology.</td><td>Maybe<sup>6</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>7</td><td>Fellport has a history of champions deflecting invasions through single combat.</td><td>No<sup>7</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>8</td><td>The Caps discovered and destroyed a shrine to Orcus on campus.</td><td>Yes<sup>8</sup></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">1 - Most of the population resides in the city proper, but caravan stops like Gull's Crossing support small villages of people.<br />2 - Akincilar (Okulari horse raiders) snuck in, opened the gate, and raided the city before retreating, but never occupied.<br />3 - It is not mandatory, but highly recommended. The Reserves train like citizen militia with spears, clubs, and shields.<br />4 - Most of these served as travel hubs for teleportation via ley lines or airship travel. Some were later converted to holy sites.<br />5 - Given the hundreds of shrines in the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/divinity-sanctum.html">Sanctum</a>, everyone in town can worship their own god, though most revere trade more.<br />6 - The Hills contained houses built by Dunhill slaves who worked on the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-breakwater.html">Breakwater</a> and earned freedom. Few remain today.<br />7 - This has never happened in Fellport. Negotiation, trade, and bribes have protected the city more than champions ever have.<br />8 - A student of the Necromancy school will be interrogated regarding the shrine. Orcus seems to be gaining followers lately.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p></div></div>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-39566579682881851952024-03-04T21:12:00.001-05:002024-03-04T21:12:39.082-05:00The Rumor Mill - Week 9<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHHedf9_izqH5FWEwfE7eSKQMx0zlCf4GD5viwxEWDt7lBHWNX_XZq0o_51x86o5S1Y1_KheFLHY0NLGUNNEGf-pAdREgUTjkpVQANXT8Gn2gLt1FG0vDwmdEHaXCECnuPZGe2KE_uQYDNJC4GJ4nffVxsccvoYBi6vhGGpWPgbxUIdaG5GEH/s150/Lore%2024%20Black%20on%20White.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHHedf9_izqH5FWEwfE7eSKQMx0zlCf4GD5viwxEWDt7lBHWNX_XZq0o_51x86o5S1Y1_KheFLHY0NLGUNNEGf-pAdREgUTjkpVQANXT8Gn2gLt1FG0vDwmdEHaXCECnuPZGe2KE_uQYDNJC4GJ4nffVxsccvoYBi6vhGGpWPgbxUIdaG5GEH/s1600/Lore%2024%20Black%20on%20White.png" width="150" /></a></div><p>So I'm a little late with this post, being week 9 of The Rumor Mill. I've got the game scheduled to run next Sunday, and I spent this weekend making battle maps instead of writing rumors. I just need to go over them once more, then export them and send them off to be printed. I haven't done that previously, so this will be a definite prop upgrade. The party is entering Dragon Peak, and they don't know there are five trials ahead. The maps aren't tremendously complicated (mostly 60' circular rooms with illusions making them look endless, but at least we've got a defined area to work with.</p><div><div><p>I want to get back to some bigger topics, so we're talking about the gods this time. I'll try to steer clear of the clergy and focus more on the actual gods, extending the list of rumors we saw back on <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-rumor-mill-week-4.html">Week 4</a>.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><table align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black; width: 633.641px;"><tbody><tr style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black;"><th style="width: 29.125px;"><b>1d8</b></th><th style="width: 535.75px;">Rumor</th><th style="width: 60.7656px;">True?</th></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>1</td><td>Correllon, The Morning Star, took their name when the First Elf ascended.</td><td>Yes<sup>1</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>2</td><td>Ilmater endures all suffering, and considers suffering the highest worship.</td><td>Maybe<sup>2</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>3</td><td>Jupiter leads an orderly pantheon, with all the other gods knowing their place.</td><td>No<sup>3</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>4</td><td>Tengri's greatest gift to the Okulari people was undoubtedly the horse.</td><td>Maybe<sup>4</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>5</td><td>Gruumsh One-Eye inspires his orcish followers to conquer and avenge.</td><td>Yes<sup>5</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>6</td><td>The Soulforger is the only god of the dwarves, creator, healer, and arbiter of truth.</td><td>No<sup>6</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>7</td><td>Dagda and Morrigan lead a drunkard family of gods in Dunhill.</td><td>No<sup>7</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>8</td><td>Tangaroa is the Islander name for Shuimu, the Nelendi goddess of the sea.</td><td>Yes<sup>8</sup></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">1 - Gaia created the First Elf, who took the name Eruidel. They molded other elves and eventually ascended to the heavens.<br />2 - When suffering becomes too much to bear, his faithful will free the sufferer from pain and usher them to their afterlife.<br />3 - The Ionian Pantheon reflects their culture: jealous, untrusting, and eternally ready to exploit weakness in their rivals.<br />4 - Tengri, the Okulari god of the sky, is credited with creating the horse. Nobody knows for sure where horses came from.<br />5 - Correllon took Gruumsh's eye in battle, and he's been bent on revenge ever since. His followers do the same in his name.<br />6 - Most of the Soulforger's clergy revere him almost monotheistically, but other dwarven gods still exist and wield power.<br />7 - Dagda controls Life, Death, Emotions, and Knowledge. Morrigan controls war, fate, and leadership. Neither are drunkards.<br />8 - Many cultures have their own name for the same deity. Shuimu also serves as the main deity for the Nelendi people.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p></div></div>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-74366961088062286192024-02-29T16:36:00.011-05:002024-02-29T18:20:36.410-05:00Glimmer Fenrock<p>Gnomish twins happen maybe once in a generation, so the extended family came to Erdgeist when <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/02/enid-fenrock.html">Enid</a> and Glimmer drew their first breaths. Glimmer kept wandering over to the Citadel in Erdgeist to watch the dwarven elite warriors practice weapons. He fell in with a few roguish dwarves also hanging around, and they proceeded to get each other in trouble incessantly. Enid ended up keeping an eye on Glimmer to try and keep him out of trouble, but she couldn't be everywhere at once.</p><p>The family moved to Aldunleigh so Glimmer's parents could tinker and work for various Dunhill merchants. Erdgeist had dark beer, but Dunhill had strong whiskey. Glimmer left Enid to her studies and found the worst dens of layabouts and troublemakers to entertain himself. He's not dumb, but the humans the he though were friends managed to outmaneuver him, and he took the blame for a jewelry heist even though he wasn't involved at all. He got wind of his impending arrest and went to Enid to say goodbye. To his surprise, she volunteered to go with him.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Enid called a friend and booked passage on a merchant sloop bound for Fellport. They would work off part of their passage, which suited Glimmer just fine. He was stronger and stouter than his bookworm sister, so they complemented each other well. They never made it to Fellport, as pirates captured the ship two days out of port and took all the crew and passengers prisoner. Old Captain Pete found out about their run-in with the law in Aldunleigh and decided to offer them spots on the crew. They accepted and started their life as pirates aboard the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/06/the-grey-rover.html">Grey Rover</a>.<p></p><p>Glimmer had never been on board a ship before escaping Dunhill, and now he learned all he could from his fellow pirates. He swabbed decks, climbed the rigging, spent hours on watch, and stared at the ocean. He felt he had a purpose other than being a barely-younger brother to the smart one of the smart one of the family. He found a home and never wanted to leave.</p><p>He and Enid met <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/06/vadym-burza.html">Vadym Burza</a> and his best friend <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/12/captain-oya-stormqueen.html">Oya Stormqueen</a>, and the four of them bonded a little more with every conquest or mission. The day Old Captain Pete got captured, Vadym stayed behind to heal him, and the twins volunteered to stay and cover the rest of the crew's escape. Pete died by hanging at <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/execution-wharf.html">Execution Wharf</a>, but the twins and Vadym served two years in prison.</p><p>Vadym came up with a business idea while serving his sentence, and he roped Enid and Glimmer into the scheme. As soon as the three of them got free, Vadym started <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/elemental-solutions.html">Elemental Solutions</a>, hiring the twins and giving them a new home in Fellport. Vadym handled sales and summoning, Enid designed and built the systems for the elementals to use, and Glimmer served as an able assistant. Glimmer has since studied masonry to minimize the damage when installing systems in the stone mansions on Topside.</p><p>After two years at Elemental Solutions, Glimmer and Enid have finally moved into their own place, big enough where they don't run into each other if they don't want to. Glimmer knows that Enid is getting bored, and he's torn if he wants to follow her into whatever's next, stick with Vadym and learn more about designing the systems that Enid currently handles, or finding a ship and heading back onto the ocean for a while. He's content for now to do whatever comes his way at work, and he's sure that the next path will make itself known when he needs it.</p><p>He keeps his jet black hair short, with a little pony tail at the nape of his neck. He could still pass for a child with his cherubic face. He's grown up quickly since serving on the Grey Rover, but he's not even fully adult yet at 38 years old. He doesn't get into trouble nearly as often as he did when he was younger, though he still enjoys to odd bar brawl when he get the chance to help out. He feels disconnected from nearly everyone, but he figures he'll find out where he fits soon.</p><p><b>Glimmer Fenrock</b><br />Rock Gnome Battle Master Fighter (Level 3) (Sailor Background)<br />Str 15 Dex 14 Con 15 Int 10 Wis 12 Cha 8<br /><span>Acrobatics +4, Athletics +4, Perception +3, Survival +3</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-47249960085012947172024-02-28T23:36:00.002-05:002024-02-29T15:36:36.459-05:00The Lost Library of Stonemoor<p><i>From the notebooks of <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/02/tilly-redmoon.html">Tilly Redmoon</a>.</i></p><p>About 300 years ago, Caragh, the Mage of the Moor traveled from castle to castle and sold her services to many of the Banner Kings across Dunhill. She usually collected spells and lore in exchange for her time and talents, and she needed somewhere to keep all of that information. She bought the rights to the Stonemoor and built a stone tower at the center of a labyrinth cut into the peat bog.</p><p>Researchers came from far and wide to walk the labyrinth and consult with Caragh and browse the Library of Stonemoor. The bard Blayne Doss recorded in his <i>Wanderwords II</i> how he walked up four flights of stairs and through a glowing doorway to get to the library, and in <i>Fabula De Colligendis Cognitionis</i> (<i>The Story of Knowledge Gathering</i>) the philosopher Stilo Aelius mentioned a trap door in the basement of Caragh's Tower. None of the written accounts agree on where the library lay within the tower, leading me to believe that it still exists in a pocket dimension somewhere. Does the entrance still exist in the Stonemoor? All accounts agree that the knowledge stored in the library would take several lifetimes to fully read through.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Caragh died at the end of winter 288 years ago (of old age?), and her tower disappeared within a fortnight without a trace. Local foragers kept harvesting peat in the Stonemoor, and the labyrinth disappeared chunk by chunk as if it never existed. Treasure hunters have searched for the library by surveying sections of the Stonemoor at least 5 times over the centuries, most recently the Goliath explorer Gorm Stensune 23 years ago, but none have found any trace of the tower or the labyrinth. Some expeditions mentioned ghosts, wisps, or laborers who disappeared, but it's a foggy old peat bog.<p></p><p><i>Other Random Notes:</i></p><p>Caragh = Transmuter? Easier to create pocket dimension? Where did the tower go - the pocket dimension? What services did she provide for people? Are there court records of the Banner Kings detailing what she did 300 years ago? Did anyone ever return to the library? Not Blayne for sure. TO DO: Find Gorm and interview!</p><p><i>There are several partial sketches of the tower and labyrinth as imagined by Tilly Redmoon littering the margins and breaking up the text. Some fanciful sketches of the library and its bookshelves grace the pages as well. Tilly has an eye for pencil sketches.</i></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-23687453779795553202024-02-26T19:59:00.008-05:002024-02-29T18:14:31.312-05:00Enid Fenrock<p style="text-align: left;">Gnomish twins happen maybe once in a generation, so the extended family came to Erdgeist when Enid and <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/02/glimmer-fenrock.html">Glimmer</a> drew their first breaths. Enid's parents taught her the family trade as she grew up, and she spent her spare time researching dwarven history and magical crafting since they lived in the capital city of the Molten Throne. The family later moved to Aldunleigh to work for merchants in Dunhill, so Enid studied there as well.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Glimmer had a knack for getting into trouble, so Enid kept bailing him out as dedicated family does. They settled into their lanes: Enid had the brains, and Glimmer had the brawn. Eventually, Glimmer made a mistake and the twins had to run before the law caught up with them. They booked passage to Fellport on a merchant sloop, but the ship got captured by pirates. Old Captain Pete found out about their run-in with the law and decided to offer them spots on the crew. They accepted and started their life as pirates aboard the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/06/the-grey-rover.html">Grey Rover</a>.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Enid made herself useful by fixing whatever she could on board ship. She set up a small forge below decks in the bow, and she repaired fixtures, made chain, and even straightened the odd weapon or two. She and Glimmer met <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/06/vadym-burza.html">Vadym Burza</a> and his best friend <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/12/captain-oya-stormqueen.html">Oya Stormqueen</a>, and the four of them bonded a little more with every conquest or mission. The day Old Captain Pete got captured, Vadym stayed behind to heal him, and the twins volunteered to stay and cover the rest of the crew's escape. Pete died by hanging at <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/execution-wharf.html">Execution Wharf</a>, but the twins and Vadym served two years in prison.<p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Vadym came up with a business idea while serving his sentence, and he roped Enid and Glimmer into the scheme. As soon as the three of them got free, Vadym started <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/elemental-solutions.html">Elemental Solutions</a>, hiring the twins and giving them a purpose. Vadym handled sales and summoning, but Enid designed and built the systems for the elementals to use, with Glimmer as an able assistant.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The three have grown the business steadily over the past two years. The twins finally found their own place to live after sleeping in the office since the business started. Enid finally had the resources to make a steel defender in the shape of a short art deco centaur with artificially smooth lines, a flat back for cargo, extra-long arms, and vaguely dwarven features. She named it Art, and Art helps haul supplies on jobs. Enid enjoys Vadym's company and the steady income, but she's getting bored. She sees the writing on the wall even as she fears it, and she's starting to look for excuses to do something else.</p><p style="text-align: left;">She pulls her ebony hair back into a pony tail while working, but otherwise it sort of floats freely in a gravity-defying wavy nimbus around her head. Her hickory-brown eyes twinkle with intelligence, as she's always planning the next thing to work on. She's still young at 38, but she doesn't feel a huge urge to settle down. She has her brother and a job that keeps her mind engaged, so she's a tired kind of happy.</p><p style="text-align: left;">She recently upgraded to a breastplate to go with Persuader, her warhammer. She doesn't suffer fools, but she will listen to honest criticism and take it to heart. She wants to work on her own projects, but she fears the loss of income that comes with striking out on her own.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Enid Fenrock</b><br />Rock Gnome Battle Smith Artificer (Level 3) (Sage Background)<br />Str 8 Dex 14 Con 12 Int 17 Wis 12 Cha 12<br /><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Arcana +5, History +5, Investigation +5, Sleight of Hand +4</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.<br /></span><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-54873687952622482202024-02-25T16:46:00.001-05:002024-02-25T16:46:55.558-05:00The Rumor Mill - Week 8<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHHedf9_izqH5FWEwfE7eSKQMx0zlCf4GD5viwxEWDt7lBHWNX_XZq0o_51x86o5S1Y1_KheFLHY0NLGUNNEGf-pAdREgUTjkpVQANXT8Gn2gLt1FG0vDwmdEHaXCECnuPZGe2KE_uQYDNJC4GJ4nffVxsccvoYBi6vhGGpWPgbxUIdaG5GEH/s150/Lore%2024%20Black%20on%20White.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHHedf9_izqH5FWEwfE7eSKQMx0zlCf4GD5viwxEWDt7lBHWNX_XZq0o_51x86o5S1Y1_KheFLHY0NLGUNNEGf-pAdREgUTjkpVQANXT8Gn2gLt1FG0vDwmdEHaXCECnuPZGe2KE_uQYDNJC4GJ4nffVxsccvoYBi6vhGGpWPgbxUIdaG5GEH/s1600/Lore%2024%20Black%20on%20White.png" width="150" /></a></div><p>Now calling: week 8 of The Rumor Mill, where we delve into some rumors involving the transmission of information or its prevention. In many ways information transmission ends up as a meta topic, since uncovering secrets and communicating across long distances both lie at the heart of playing a remote role-playing game. From "how far am I from the ogre?" to "I need to let the rest of the party know what I found out right now," we can't play a tabletop game without communicating information.</p><div><div><p>For our purposes, we'll deal with topics found in the world around Fellport. I'm being vague in a few cases here, because some of this information may come up in a future game. No spoilers, as they say.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><table align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black; width: 633.641px;"><tbody><tr style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black;"><th style="width: 29.125px;"><b>1d8</b></th><th style="width: 535.75px;">Rumor</th><th style="width: 60.7656px;">True?</th></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>1</td><td><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/06/tor-sariel.html">Sariel</a> has worked at the Council House for centuries. She knows many secrets.</td><td>Yes<sup>1</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>2</td><td>Be careful what you say. Someone else listens whenever you cast <i>sending</i>.</td><td>Maybe<sup>2</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>3</td><td>I've heard that <i>augury</i> has been wrong lately. Do the gods even exist any more?</td><td>No<sup>3</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>4</td><td>Before the Arcane Night, people and cities could teleport across the world.</td><td>Maybe<sup>4</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>5</td><td>The Spell Exchange offers spells from across Beneterra for a reasonable fee.</td><td>Maybe<sup>5</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>6</td><td>Dragons gave the humanoid races knowledge. We've gone stagnant without them.</td><td>No<sup>6</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>7</td><td>Imperial-made steel remains strong, meaning we've lost metallurgical secrets.</td><td>No<sup>7</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>8</td><td>The Heroes of Fellport closed a portal, and disturbing dreams got worse.</td><td>Yes<sup>8</sup></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">1 - In some cases she knows where the literal bodies are buried, but she maintains a low profile and avoids the public.<br />2 - Coincidences involving <i>sending</i> messages are up, leading people to groundlessly suspect extraplanar eavesdroppers.<br />3 - Just because <i>augury</i> tells you a truth you don't want to hear, doesn't mean it's wrong. What changed after casting?<br />4 - The Etheric Age produced many wonders, including teleportation, Back then a few cities flew, but they didn't teleport.<br />5 - They only have locations in Aldunleigh, Fellport, Ionia, and Imzilut. And "reasonable" is subjective for monthly fees.<br />6 - Dragons taught the elder races many things, but people can figure things out on their own without draconic influence.<br />7 - A secret society called Odin's Chosen focuses on finding and retaining secrets of metallurgy and mineral science.<br />8 - Well that's a curious coincidence, now isn't it? Maybe we'll explore this at some point in-game.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p></div></div>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-9372881258091684202024-02-22T21:38:00.001-05:002024-02-22T21:38:58.431-05:00Lt. Terry Duncan<p>Terrence O'Dowd Duncan came into this world on a rare sunny day in late spring in Donnchadh Castle, the Duncan family castle at the heart of the village of Cullenkirk near the capital city of Aldunleigh in the Dunhill Confederacy. He spread his sunshine to everyone around him as he grew up, always making people laugh with his antics and terrible toddler jokes. His father Nal-Syrith worked as an Alfinwald ambassador to Dunhill in Aldunleigh, and the Monarch recalled him soon after Terry turned 2, citing the low-key scandal caused by Terry's birth. The task of raising him fell on his mother, Ellie Duncan, a young human daughter of the family.</p><p>When he grew into his body, he joined the other black sheep of the family in The Jongleurs, a touring performance troupe. Duncan spent hours perfecting his routines, first tumbling, then ropewalking, and finally juggling. He took to juggling daggers like a true bannerman takes to whiskey, and he never looked back. He spent several years touring the coast with The Jongleurs, sampling the bounty the world held and enjoying life.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>When he was in his 30s, he came to Fellport with the troupe for two weeks of shows at the Grand Odeon. He went out every night, enjoying good food and drink. He met a beautiful half-elven boy like himself, and he fell head over heels in love with this sailor. He had infatuations before, but this felt different somehow deeper than all the other flings. He decided to stay and see where it led.<p></p><p>Within a year, his love had been called back to work on board ship, leaving Terry alone in Fellport. He decided to join the Watch to give back to the city, and those contacts led him to the Folio Fools, a drama society at the College. He performed at first, but he found it more rewarding to direct and advise, and he's been doing so for the past 23 years. He also enjoys teaching juggling in small classes or one-on-one.</p><p>As a member of the Watch, his preference for daggers and darts seemed unorthodox, but nobody could dispute his effectiveness in defusing situations with words and taking down the belligerent in a hurry. He never looks armed, but he can produce daggers seemingly from thin air, throwing or wielding them as necessary. He hustles darts for fun, and he has a one-handed three dart trick starting with 3 darts on a table and ending with 3 bullseyes 3 seconds later. He always wins sucker bets when he's out on the town.</p><p>Eight years ago, he accepted a promotion to Lieutenant and an appointment to Lieutenant Commander of the Watch Reserve, where he teaches the volunteer militia on the basics of handling weapons and especially how to throw javelins and darts. He's an excellent teacher, patiently imitating poor form in a funny way to make his students remember. He currently serves under the Commander of the Watch Reserve, Captain Olivia Drake, and they have an excellent professional relationship.</p><p>Personally, he loves life, eating excellent food, and having fun with other people. He falls in love with almost anyone at the drop of a hat, and he's an experienced and attentive lover. He maintains friendships with almost all of his exes, and everybody understands that Terry loves deeply but eventually moves on to the next interesting person at the buffet of life.</p><p>His hair reminds everyone of a brilliant oak in autumn, blazing red, orange, and gold. He still looks quite young despite his 57 years, and he always smiles, especially when angry. Mercurial sums him up, moving quickly and decisively physically and mentally. Everyone in town knows of him, and almost everyone likes him. He's omniromantic - he'll fall in love with anyone until the feeling runs its course.</p><p><b>Lieutenant Terry Duncan<br /></b>Half-Elf (Dunhill) Battle Master Fighter (Level 10) (Entertainer Background; Piercer, Sharpshooter Feats)<br />Str 8 Dex 18 Con 14 Int 12 Wis 14 Cha 14<br /><span>Acrobatics +8, Insight +6, </span><span>Perception +6, Performance +6, Persuasion +6, Sleight of Hand +8</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. </span><span>For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-85373417064285696822024-02-21T20:34:00.002-05:002024-02-21T20:58:18.635-05:00Felix Argentum<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Argentum family, based in <span style="background-color: white;">Orapalus in the Low Dales, mainly produces merchants and bankers. Felix, the youngest of 3 children and the only son of Rufus and Camilla Argentum took a very different path. He read everything in town, which wasn't much, then started writing his own observations on plant life, the properties of water, star charts with his own constellations, and a list of everything he has ever seen someone sell. He loves organization and will go out of his way to make sure any collection is ordered correctly, usually alphabetically when he doesn't see numbers listed.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">In his teens he started playing with words, and for two years he spoke in nothing but iambic tetrameter rhyming couplets, much to the chagrin of his parents. His sisters teased him about it, but they diligently kept him safe him from bullies. He wrote volumes of notes in rhyming couplets, occasionally getting stuck coming up with rhymes that made sense. He still speaks in rhyme today for fun and to calm his thoughts, so his friends usually know when he gets flustered. His parents tried to get him to work in their shop, but he kept ignoring customers when he couldn't stop organizing and reorganizing the shelves. His interests varied by the day, if not the hour, and he always said he wanted to study everything. He bought a pair of <i>slippers of spider climbing</i> with his 18th birthday money, and he found them so useful that he only takes them off when he sleeps.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">He ended up leaving home on his 20th birthday, heading to Fellport to explore their myriad of libraries and find work. He had a small stash of savings to get started, which he immediately spent at the College for an ID to access all of their libraries. He didn't enroll at the College, but he found and joined the Lorekeepers, a campus-based circle of bards interested in learning everything they could about the world and its people. He found work organizing shelves, and he spent endless hours over the past two years reworking collections to make them easier to use. He still works at various libraries in the evenings, but he came across an opportunity he couldn't pass up.</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">Two months ago he heard about the Temple of Components in <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/01/talltown.html">Talltown</a>. Something moved him to take a tour of this shop being offered for sale, and he instantly fell in love with the hundreds of tiny drawers filled with all manner of things for making magic items and casting spells. He hadn't seen a collection of wondrous things like this before, so he spent all his savings and bought it on the spot. Felix ended up renaming the shop <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/02/stone-toenails.html">Stone Toenails</a> after a drawer of grey stone shards he found early on. It stays warm all the time, and he modified a blocked-off entry vestibule to serve as his bedroom, saving him the rent he was paying for an apartment in the Undercampus.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">He spends his days organizing his new collection with the occasional help of <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/01/thea-willowstaff.html">Thea Willowstaff</a>, a friend and fellow store owner in Talltown. In the evenings he organizes libraries for the College. He sleeps for a few hours and gets back to the drawer collection at the crack of dawn. It's not glamorous, but it makes him immeasurably happy.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">Felix has always been short, standing 2 feet 10 inches tall, and he looks thin like a starving college student even though he just turned 23. He has a wiry strength and a compelling smile, both of which pull him through most hardships he faces. He doesn't normally wear armor, though he has a suit of leather armor and a rapier, gifts from his parents that he keeps packed away on the off chance he'll find them useful one day. His mop of charcoal hair rarely gets chopped back in the bowl cut he's worn since childhood, and his brown eyes continuously flit around looking for patterns. He can't stop himself when sharing information about his products or the books he organizes and reads. He accesses all of his bardic abilities through rhymed couplets, though he practices the tin whistle and drum with the Lorekeepers when they get together. He knows songs, but he hates his singing voice, so he always performs them as poetry rather than music.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Felix Argentum<br /></b>Hominae Vitae (Lightfoot) Lore Bard (Level 3) (Sage Background)<br />Str 12 Dex 14 Con 13 Int 13 Wis 8 Cha 16<br /><span>Arcana +5*, History +5*, Investigation +3, </span><span>Nature +3, Performance +5, Persuasion +5, Sleight of Hand +4, Stealth +4</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><i>Note: I don't think I'm intentionally making Talltown Fellport's home to folks on the spectrum, but here we are. I have visions of 2'10" Felix and 8' Thea acting very much like Mitch and Jordan in Real Genius. Possibly with the romance angle later, but they've only known each other a couple of months. I had no idea of this when writing up Thea, but it totally fits.</i></span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. </span><span>For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-39263527505761545492024-02-19T17:15:00.008-05:002024-02-21T20:40:21.686-05:00Stone Toenails<p>Near the ramp in <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/01/talltown.html">Talltown</a> stands a circular building made of white marble with a domed roof. Originally it served as a shrine built by Stone Giants when they came to help build Fellport, but the Cult of Surtur died off soon after its completion. Enterprising giants changed it into a spell component shop (The Temple of Components) to capitalize on the growing College, a task made easier with all the tiny drawers built into the walls that originally held runes and totems sacred to the cult. It's muddled along, losing business as the giants left town. The majority of the giants moved out decades back, but a motivated young Hominae Vitae lore bard named <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/02/felix-argentum.html">Felix Argentum</a> recently bought it for a song and works tirelessly to fix it up.</p><p>Giants built all the fixtures and doors, so they're comically large when compared to the diminutive Felix. His <i>slippers of spider climbing</i> give him a literal leg up in dealing with the height disparity, so he has access to everything without the need for ladders or ropes. Watching him climb the walls to get to the taller drawers has a certain air of entertainment to it, so some teens go in to browse as a joke until they can't stop laughing. Felix laughs it off, but he's starting to compile a mental list of the pranksters so he doesn't fall for it a second time.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Felix still struggles to identify everything he bought despite his extensive training in magical lore. Drawers full of odds and ends stretch around the entire circumference of the single large room, and many of them have lost their labels. Early on he joked that a pile of grey stone slivers looked like clippings from stone toenails, and the name stuck. He commissioned a large grey toe and scribed the toenail with magical sigils as his sign, which hangs over the main door. He's carved out a living space in one of the side rooms that used to be a vestibule for one of the other three entrances to the building, with a hammock hanging in front of the cooking fire he kindles in an old offering niche.<p></p><p>He's not afraid to experiment, so he talked <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/01/thea-willowstaff.html">Thea Willowstaff</a> into helping him to identify things. They get into all sorts of trouble between Thea's wild magic and Felix's naive lack of wisdom, but they usually don't cause any permanent damage. Thea has started buying components from Stone Toenails when making her experimental magic items. The shop carries a wide selection of components, even if Felix don't know exactly what everything is yet, and he's started carrying leather and cloth component pouches and bags to hold everything for easy access. Felix has worked to find suppliers for reliable sources of stock, but he has some holes in his inventory at the moment.</p><p>Felix doesn't really notice how warm the shop stays year-round, as the constant struggle with his inventory occupies his mind most of the time, and he enjoys a snug bedroom to sleep in. Further investigation may reveal the spirit of a fire giant trapped in the building's foundation, a throwback to the Cult of Surtur. Will an experiment unleash it and spread fire across Talltown? Only time will tell.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-23579603104606990672024-02-18T21:39:00.000-05:002024-02-18T21:39:41.416-05:00The Rumor Mill - Week 7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHHedf9_izqH5FWEwfE7eSKQMx0zlCf4GD5viwxEWDt7lBHWNX_XZq0o_51x86o5S1Y1_KheFLHY0NLGUNNEGf-pAdREgUTjkpVQANXT8Gn2gLt1FG0vDwmdEHaXCECnuPZGe2KE_uQYDNJC4GJ4nffVxsccvoYBi6vhGGpWPgbxUIdaG5GEH/s150/Lore%2024%20Black%20on%20White.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHHedf9_izqH5FWEwfE7eSKQMx0zlCf4GD5viwxEWDt7lBHWNX_XZq0o_51x86o5S1Y1_KheFLHY0NLGUNNEGf-pAdREgUTjkpVQANXT8Gn2gLt1FG0vDwmdEHaXCECnuPZGe2KE_uQYDNJC4GJ4nffVxsccvoYBi6vhGGpWPgbxUIdaG5GEH/s1600/Lore%2024%20Black%20on%20White.png" width="150" /></a></div><p>Rolling into week 7 of The Rumor Mill, we find some stories about some of the higher-profile members of Fellport society. From the rich and powerful to simply the popular, all manner of untruths grow in the public imagination, and it's up to us to set the record straight. Some untruths have been repeated so often that they're accepted as truths, and some mysteries have a simple explanation. Occam's Razor does more than shave, as they say.</p><div><div><p>For now, enjoy another 8 micro-tales and wonder if you will ever ascend to the ranks of fame in Fellport.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><table align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black; width: 633.641px;"><tbody><tr style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black;"><th style="width: 29.125px;"><b>1d8</b></th><th style="width: 535.75px;">Rumor</th><th style="width: 60.7656px;">True?</th></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>1</td><td>Terry Duncan must have had relationships with half the city by now.</td><td>Yes<sup>1</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>2</td><td>I don't know why the Atreyan family left their estate on Topside, but it's for sale.</td><td>Maybe<sup>2</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>3</td><td><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/02/bert-desilva.html">Bert DeSilva</a> manages the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/02/the-grand-odeon.html">Grand Odeon</a>, but he has no idea how to handle rentals.</td><td>No<sup>3</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>4</td><td>Lady Amaryllis performs magic experiments at her estate outside town.</td><td>Maybe<sup>4</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>5</td><td>The Heroes of Fellport recovered the Scepter of Light after their mentors died.</td><td>Yes<sup>5</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>6</td><td><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/genna-sinclair.html">Genna Sinclair</a> has taken a vow of chastity as an officer of the Divinity Circle.</td><td>No<sup>6</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>7</td><td>Allan Kemp claimed he invented sea shanties in one of his shows.</td><td>No<sup>7</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>8</td><td><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/01/emma-gardner.html">Emma Gardner</a> may be old, but she knows everyone with money and power.</td><td>Yes<sup>8</sup></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">1 - Terry loves talking to people, and he usually falls in love along the way. He's second in command of the Watch Reserves.<br />2 - This is fallout from the excellent adventure <a href="https://www.dmsguild.com/product/234600/The-Festival-of-Magic?affiliate_id=18287">The Festival of Magic</a> (affiliate link), as uncovered by my gaming group.<br />3 - Bert lives his life in barely controlled chaos, but he charges what he can get away with and skims a few coins off the top.<br />4 - Lady Amaryllis isn't a spellcaster, but she has a staff to figure out better ways to grow food, including pocket environments.<br />5 - Truth. This plot came from the adventure <a href="https://www.dmsguild.com/product/300952/A-Heros-Journey?affiliate_id=18287">A Hero's Journey</a> (affiliate link), which was the first adventure in my current game.<br />6 - The Divinity Circle accepts all faiths, from Bacchus to Vesta, and they require no vows. Genna (she./they) is aro and ace.<br />7 - He may have gathered popular sea shanties and exposed them to the rich, but they have been around for hundreds of years.<br />8 - As the founder of the prestigious <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/01/the-garden-manor-society.html">Garden Manor Society</a>, she regularly sees all the movers and shakers in Fellport.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p></div>
</div><p></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-85357295164177379932024-02-16T13:27:00.001-05:002024-02-16T13:27:36.904-05:00Phase Silk Kimono<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Khalili_Collection_of_Kimono_KX142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="A blue kimono with a white cloud motif." border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="558" height="200" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Khalili_Collection_of_Kimono_KX142.jpg" title="Khalili Collections, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons" width="140" /></a></i></div><i>Wondrous item (robe), very rare or legendary (greater) (requires attunement)</i><p></p><p>The Yamagura Empire harvests silk from phase spiders as well as from silkworms. Textiles made from this phase silk preserve some of the extraplanar properties of phase spiders with very little magical encouragement. Phase silk weighs half as much as regular silk for the same thickness, so a <i>phase silk kimono</i> typically weighs 1-2 pounds and does not inhibit movement. Only the Yamagura Empire produces these items, though the Okulari in the far west rarely find enough phase silk to make tunics with similar properties.</p><p>The <i>phase silk kimono</i> grants a +1 bonus to the wearer's Armor Class and saving throws. Using a bonus action, the wearer can cast the <i>blink</i> spell which lasts for 1 minute or until dismissed or dispelled. This property of the kimono can't be used again until the next dawn. Arcane spellcasters favor this kimono, and most are created for a specific individual, though they magically resize to fit the wearer during the attunement process.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>The greater version grants a +2 bonus to the wearer's Armor Class and a +1 to saving throws. In addition to the <i>blink</i> ability, the <i>greater phase silk kimono</i> allows the wearer to cast the <i>shield</i> spell as a reaction twice per day, with any spent uses returning the next dawn. Instead of blocking the incoming attack, the wearer partially phases to the ethereal plane to avoid damage. Additionally, the wearer can cast the <i>etheralness</i> spell as a full-round action, lasting up to 8 hours unless dismissed or dispelled. This property of the kimono can be used once per week, available for use again at the 7th dawn after it was used.<p></p><p>Phase silk appears silvery-grey in color, and it shimmers and shifts. Most phase silk kimonos stick with blue or grey color schemes, usually with silver or gold highlights. Kimonos are rarely seen outside the Yamagura Empire, so wearing one would turn heads even in cosmopolitan Fellport.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.<br />For all city posts, see the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a>. For posts about the wider world, see the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a>.</span></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-89343192541269049662024-02-15T20:11:00.011-05:002024-02-16T13:39:45.601-05:00Leo Xanthus<p><b>Summary:</b> Chef. Perfectionist. Abrasive personality and wicked temper. Worked at Philosopher's Stone Tavern for about 6 months before the staff rebelled.</p><p>Leo grew up in the capital city of Ionia, the second son of a life-long senator. His parents pushed him to be the best in everything he did. He didn't just pass tests, he excelled at them. He didn't just win debates, he buried the opposition with well-researched rhetoric and usually a few clumsily-veiled threats. He and his older brother competed in everything, and Leo usually ended up frustrated in second place.</p><p>He served his time in the legions as all good Ionian senator's sons did, keeping the peace in various outposts along the border with Alfinwald. He usually took on cooking duties in his tent, and sometimes for the whole century. He found he enjoyed cooking, the balance of salt, sour, and sweet made him feel powerful when he got it right, and like a raging failure when the ratio skewed in one direction or another. He internalized his parents' voices telling him to be the best he can be, and he always pushes himself to learn more.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>After his years in the army, he came home. His father had made some bad deals just before his untimely death, so his brother Valerian inherited everything and left Leo with nothing. His mother passed soon after his father, not that she would advocate for Leo anyway. The brothers never got along, since each of them always wanted to outdo the other. Valerian took over the house and got elected to the senate in his father's seat, and he paid Leo to leave town and never come back.<p></p><p>Leo headed to the city where the less-desirable elements of society ended up: Fellport. He took jobs in various restaurants to learn from the best the city had to offer over the past 10 years, but his abrasive attitude ensured he made few friends along the way. More than once he got fired because he habitually yelled at prep chefs and bullied everyone in the kitchen except the head chef. The entire staff of <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/02/the-philosophers-stone-tavern.html">The Philosopher's Stone Tavern</a> went on strike after 6 months as manager instead of tolerating his verbal abuse, and the College leadership council asked him to leave immediately thereafter. He requires perfection, and he has no compunction about letting people know exactly how and why they fell short.</p><p>He initially studied poisons and ways to kill quickly when he thought he'd take revenge on his brother, but that opportunity passed with his banishment. Still, he feels there's no sense in having a skill and not excelling in it, so he experiments and studies whenever he can, continually increasing his knowledge of poison and physiology. Nobody knows about his proclivity for poisons, so nobody knows they can hire him for assassinations. Even the various criminal groups in town only know Leo as a loudmouth chef.</p><p>His wears his auburn hair short, though it spikes up and looks unkempt when he spends any amount of time working in the kitchen. He's mildly attractive and in his mid-30s, though his eternal scowl makes him seem older and darker. He focuses on his food for now, and he's plotting his next career move. He's been trying to get a job at the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/03/the-sacred-squid.html">Sacred Squid</a> for the past couple of years, as that's the hottest restaurant in town at the moment, but he's not confident he'll get their attention. He wants to open a high-end restaurant as close to Topside as he can afford, so he's usually found schmoozing the nobility in the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/01/the-perfect-pint.html">Perfect Pint</a> or the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/02/steinkellar-bar.html">Steinkellar</a>, trying to land a private chef position where he has total control of the kitchen.</p><p><b>Leo Xanthus</b><br />Human (Ionian) Assassin Rogue (Level 3) (Soldier Background; Chef Feat)<br />Str 12 Dex 16 Con 14 Int 12 Wis 14 Cha 8<br /><span>Athletics +3, Deception +1, Intimidation +3*, Medicine +4, Perception +4, Sleight of Hand +7*, Stealth +5</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.<br />For all city posts, see the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a>. For posts about the wider world, see the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a>.</span></p><p></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-53391500141509544542024-02-12T21:17:00.004-05:002024-02-12T21:23:58.029-05:00Tori Longwood<p>Victoria Longwood's parents worked on the docks for years. They would do whatever work came their way and barely make ends meet most of the time. Victoria figured heavily into her mother's panhandling routine, tugging at heartstrings with the image of a young mother and her infant on the streets. That routine kept them fed for about a year, until she got "too old". Her parents blamed her for everything, much like they blamed everyone else for their apathy and financial woes. Her father hit her when he got mad, but that didn't last long. Victoria didn't like her parents and she didn't want to become them, so she decided to do something about it. She grew tall and strong, kept her head down, and she got friendly with people who could help her to escape.</p><p>Her father came home in one of his bad moods, but this time he lost to his daughter. She kept screaming, "My name is Tori!" as she beat him unconscious. Her mother started berating her. Tori told her, "This is your chance, mom. You're free if you want to be." Her mother kept going with her rage-filled tirade. She didn't listen, so Tori didn't stay. Nobody ever called her Victoria again without bloodshed.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>The very next high tide, she left Fellport on the Jolly Prince Robert, a trading schooner out of Occam. She literally learned the ropes and made friends with the rest of the crew, though she kept her distance from anyone who reminded her of her parents. Despite her being only 14, she was stronger than almost everyone else, so she rarely found herself in difficult social situations. She could talk or bully her way out of trouble, and she could sense trouble and avoid it early. Everyone sang her praises when she single-handedly repelled boarders with nothing more than an oar, knocking a dozen pirates into the sea.<p></p><p>She found steady work on several crews over the next 9 years, but eventually she found herself on land hunting treasure. One of her friends hired her as extra muscle, outfitting her with armor and a maul to help protect the party in following a credible treasure map to a hidden cove. They battled a pack of wolves, a pair of ogres, the skeletons of the buried pirate crew, and even a sneak attack betrayal from within the party of treasure hunters, but she alone prevailed. Everyone else succumbed to poison or the loving touch of her maul on their skulls.</p><p>As the only survival, she found herself with a ridiculous amount of treasure, enough to do whatever she wanted with the rest of her life. She laid low for a while to avoid questions from friends and family of her deceased party and to consider her options, but she knew she needed to return to Fellport and confront her parents to close that chapter of her life for good. She made her way back two months after the Godstorm hit the city. She discovered that her parents had been lost in the flood, probably passed-out drunk and swept out to sea, but their bodies were never recovered. She bummed around town for a while, taking a few side jobs, not feeling inspired, and sort of coasting through life for a while.</p><p>Then she saw the wreck of the Fair Weather Friend on Dockside. She received a vision of what she wanted to do with her life, and it involved putting smiles on other people's faces. She talked with carpenters, distillers, and engineers, and she planned for about a year. She brought her proposal to the Fellport Council who approved it, and she started renovating.</p><p>A year later, she opened the doors of <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/02/weather-deck-distillery.html">The Weather Deck Distillery</a> and never looked back. She expected it to take a while to get established, but she wisely named her signature clear rum Holy Water, which brought all sorts of attention (and sales) from the sailors paying their respects at the Lightspire nearby. Things haven't slowed down for her in the 29 years since then. She spends most of her time making rum and tending bar, though she has a staff now and a chef to make food for her patrons. She has taken plenty of lovers over the years, both men and women, but she never settled down, deeply afraid of repeating the cruelty inflicted on her by her parents. She enjoys the experience for what it is, and when it plays out she moves on without regret or recrimination.</p><p>Tori keeps her black hair cut short and never wears anything with sleeves if she can help it, preferring a leather vest and gauntlets. She's over six feet tall, and she has a solid muscular presence that's hard to deny. She trains every day, so physically she looks like she's in her mid-30s, not 53. She enjoys her work, both brewing and serving customers, and she always acts as bouncer in her bar, flinging troublemakers into the harbor if they get in her face. She decided long ago to never drink to excess, so she bought a silver pocketwatch with a timer. When she finishes a drink, she sets the timer for an hour and refuses to drink anything except water until the timer goes off.</p><p>Tori rolls with the punches (physically and socially) and laughs often, but she wears her discipline like armor. She's starting to think about her legacy and how The Weather Deck might continue after she's gone, but she still has some time before it becomes an issue. She's well-connected, and occasionally she sets up low-level adventuring parties with interested customers. Once she makes the introduction, both parties promise to treat the other fairly, or Tori will get involved and impose consequences. Her reputation means the world to her, so she won't tolerate betrayal from anyone she works with or vouches for.</p><p><b>Tori Longwood<br /></b>Human (Fellport) Battle Master Fighter (Level 4) (Sailor Background; Crusher, Tavern Brawler Feats)<br />Str 16 Dex 10 Con 12 Int 12 Wis 14 Cha 14<br />Athletics +5, Insight +4, Intimidation +4, Perception +4, Persuasion +4</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.<br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-52839470770303918612024-02-11T20:45:00.002-05:002024-02-12T21:18:23.136-05:00Weather Deck Distillery<p>When the waters receded after the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-godstorm.html">Godstorm</a> thirty years ago, a few ships grounded on land instead of floating back to the harbor. The Amigo En Buenos Tiempos (Fair Weather Friend), a three-masted trading barque out of El Puerto Frontera in the Adalian Principality to the south, broke apart on the Cliffside of Dockside, fairly close to the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/spire-of-light.html">Lightspire</a>. It broke in two, its stern rested against the rock wall, and its bow sank in the harbor. The bowsprit floated back, so someone fished it out of the harbor and propped it up next to the stern of the ship.</p><p>Workers cleared some of the wreck's debris to make Dockside passable out to the Lightspire, but the bulk of the wreck stood empty for a couple of years. Then the <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2023/05/the-fellport-council.html">Fellport Council</a> approved a petition from <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/02/tori-longwood.html">Tori Longwood</a> to start a distillery and make rum. For a relatively small sum, Tori bought property rights for the wrecked ship and started converting it to a serviceable workspace and bar. A year later, the Weather Deck Distillery opened, providing a decent local rum with zero frills.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Over the years, the Weather Deck has expanded its offerings, providing tastings and flights paired with some appetizers. Tori built stairs up to the actual weather deck of the wrecked ship, allowing people to take their drinks and food up a few decks for a higher view of the harbor. Dinghies and launches stop by regularly, and sailors stopping to pray at the Lightspire sometimes take a detour to pick up a bottle or two of Holy Water (a clear and surprisingly smooth run) at the Weather Deck on their way back to their ship.<p></p><p>Today the Weather Deck is an anomalous harborside fixture, providing fancy but unpretentious light food and a dazzling array of rum cocktails in half of a four-deck ship. They offer indoor space at the bar and some tables in the Landlubber Patio area, plus space on the actual Weather Deck three flights up. The bar and small kitchen fill the lowest deck, and the distillery and storage space takes up the next two decks. The captain's cabin directly under the aftercastle serves as Tori's apartment, and sometimes she lets her staff sleep in hammocks in storage areas or between the stills.</p><p>Common rum flavors include Stormclouds (dark rum), Firewater (cinnamon spiced rum), Harbor Gold (golden rum), and Holy Water (clear rum). The bartenders on duty can make any rum drink imaginable.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-24795823656351355542024-02-11T16:09:00.002-05:002024-02-11T16:09:25.299-05:00The Rumor Mill - Week 6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHHedf9_izqH5FWEwfE7eSKQMx0zlCf4GD5viwxEWDt7lBHWNX_XZq0o_51x86o5S1Y1_KheFLHY0NLGUNNEGf-pAdREgUTjkpVQANXT8Gn2gLt1FG0vDwmdEHaXCECnuPZGe2KE_uQYDNJC4GJ4nffVxsccvoYBi6vhGGpWPgbxUIdaG5GEH/s150/Lore%2024%20Black%20on%20White.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHHedf9_izqH5FWEwfE7eSKQMx0zlCf4GD5viwxEWDt7lBHWNX_XZq0o_51x86o5S1Y1_KheFLHY0NLGUNNEGf-pAdREgUTjkpVQANXT8Gn2gLt1FG0vDwmdEHaXCECnuPZGe2KE_uQYDNJC4GJ4nffVxsccvoYBi6vhGGpWPgbxUIdaG5GEH/s1600/Lore%2024%20Black%20on%20White.png" width="150" /></a></div><p>We've made it to week 6 of The Rumor Mill. This week let's talk about trade. For anyone unfamiliar, here are some generalities about trade goods in the Fellport-adjacent corner of Beneterra.</p><p>The highest quality linen and leather goods come from Okular. The finest stone, gems, and metals make the Molten Throne rich. Alfinwald wood can't be beat, and their variety of fruits and herbs truly astound. The Ionian Republic introduced a standard system of weights and measures to insure fair trading, and many nations still use worn Ionian denarii as standard gold piece equivalents even though they're silver. Ionia built a reputation for the best refined goods in the world, especially carts, but many challenge that assumption today. Dunhill produces two main exports: whiskey and wool, though their metallurgy is nothing to scoff at either. Nelendi has the market cornered on pearls, which concerns anyone needing them for components.</p><div><div><p>Here are a few rumors involving trade that may make you a few coins, or give you a place to start when you look to purchase something specific.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><table align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black; width: 633.641px;"><tbody><tr style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black;"><th style="width: 29.125px;"><b>1d8</b></th><th style="width: 535.75px;">Rumor</th><th style="width: 60.7656px;">True?</th></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>1</td><td>Okulari weavers produce a tightly woven linen that can repel water.</td><td>Yes<sup>1</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>2</td><td>Adamantium weapons and armor only come from Molten Throne forges.</td><td>Maybe<sup>2</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>3</td><td>Nelendi cities don't tolerate air breathers, which makes trade difficult.</td><td>No<sup>3</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>4</td><td>Many call Dunhill whiskey "Liquid Gold" because it's worth so much.</td><td>Maybe<sup>4</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>5</td><td>Fellport produces and sells more magic items than anywhere else in the world.</td><td>Yes<sup>5</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>6</td><td>Alfinwald jewelry is so expensive because metal is scarce in the forest.</td><td>No<sup>6</sup></td></tr><tr style="text-align: center;"><td>7</td><td>Ionian traders drive hard bargains, but they have the widest variety of goods.</td><td>No<sup>7</sup></td></tr><tr style="background-color: lightgrey; text-align: center;"><td>8</td><td>Nelendi, Alfinwald, and Molten Throne traders all offer bioluminescent lamps.</td><td>Yes<sup>8</sup></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">1 - Imagine modern canvas made of a lighter-weight linen. Okulari tents protect from the elements with less weight.<br />2 - The dwarves jealously guard their adamantium production, but you can buy smuggled ingots with plenty of coin.<br />3 - Most Nelendi cities maintain market rafts to trade with air-breathing folk. Most also offer underwater bubbles for city visits.<br />4 - Dunhill produces the world's best whiskey, but some definite rotgut brands exist, like Downpour Glen and Hillsmoke.<br />5 - Having the College in town attracts the best minds for arcane magics. Many students create magic items for credit.<br />6 - Rumors say that mithril comes from trees somehow. Wood jewelry is common in Alfinwald, and metals are not scarce.<br />7 - Okular would like a word. Okulari traders exclusively control the flow of silk from the Yamagura Empire to the far west.<br />8 - Nelendi Moonclams (green), Alfinwald Lichen Lamps (purple), and Molten Throne Fire Fungus (orange) are all staples.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p></div>
</div><p></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-11424100844762010472024-02-10T18:22:00.002-05:002024-02-10T18:22:26.310-05:00Reed Bellamy<p>Reed Bellamy usually handles deliveries for his father's business, the Alabaster Ale Works. He tries to take all the delivery runs near the College especially, including <a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/02/the-philosophers-stone-tavern.html">The Philosopher's Stone Tavern</a>. He wants to learn magic, as he has potential, but he never seems to find the time to study since his father keeps him busy with deliveries and "learning the business" even though he finds brewing boring.</p><p>Six months ago he did a job for one of the professors at the College on a lark, but he got caught stealing a book from another professor. Now he's working for each of them to steal things from the other in a vain attempt to work off his guilty conscience. Usually these excursions take place after delivering beer all day, and he's just tired. He jots down his observations about security holes on campus, and he wants to write up a report for the College leadership, maybe as a consultant or a full-blown employee. On the upside, during his thievery war he did manage to steal a couple of first year textbooks that neither professor has missed yet, and he works on casting cantrips when he can keep his eyes open at night. (<i>Note: He'll take Arcane Trickster next level, and look out world.</i>)</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Reed lives up to his name, tall and thin with a tousle of dark brown hair. His freckles and dimples fight for which looks cuter on his boyish face. He attracts romantic attention, but he doesn't feel like he has the time to waste on dating, so he turns every offer down in the nicest possible way. He just turned 18, but everyone in town knows him as the Ale Guy since he's been delivering almost entirely on his own for the past 5 years. He enjoys the puzzle of burglary, and he doesn't quite realize how much power he has access to in his social network. <p></p><p>He jokes with everyone and remembers to ask everyone about friends and family. He doesn't want to deliver for the rest of his life, but he has a huge list of people who owe him favors because of it. He also manages to make some deals on the side for a little extra income, easily hidden in his normal delivery routes. Rumors say the Lakeside Six have recently extended an invitation for Reed to join their family, but he denies it.</p><p><b>Reed Bellamy</b><br />Human Rogue (Level 2) (Noble Background; Skill Expert Feat)<br />Str 12 Dex 16 Con 12 Int 14 Wis 8 Cha 14<br /><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Arcana +4, Deception +4, History +4, Investigation +4, Persuasion +6*, Sleight of Hand +7*, Stealth +7*</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.<br /></span><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></p>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14845100.post-43649918381337657142024-02-09T20:25:00.002-05:002024-02-09T20:25:25.320-05:00Alabaster Ale Works<p>On the Lakeside of Greenmarket on Level 15, a short rectangular building made of translucent white stone has stood for 150 years overlooking the harbor. Its design references Ionian marble designs, but with a more modern twist, as a magically fortified alabaster forms the structure. Created by a long-dead human transmuter with more money than sense, everyone calls it Alabaster House even though nobody lives there any more.</p><p>A group of five well-funded brewers bought Alabaster House about 50 years ago and started selling their creations under the name Alabaster Ale Works. They commissioned two dozen fermentation vessels out of fortified alabaster to keep with the company's theme, and they set to work. One by one the original brewers have retired or died off, selling or handing down their shares of the business to their children. Two families now run the brewery after buying out all of their uninterested co-owners: the Bellamys and the Spencers.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>The Ale Works have inserted themselves into drinking establishments all over town, becoming a mainstay brand known throughout Fellport. They offer tours and tastings at the brewery as well as some limited direct sales (mostly filling growlers). Brewing equipment fills Alabaster House except for the small bar intended for tastings, preventing further expansion beyond the 48 fermentation vessels currently in use. However, the owners currently search for a location to house the Alabaster Tavern, now that they have a lead on a chef willing to work out recipes using their beers.<p></p><p>They focus on fast-fermenting ales and meads as their primary output, but they prepare one Imperial brew every month for sale in about a year's time. Their everyday offerings have names like Pastime (pale ale), Cream of the Crop (cream ale), Red Spire (red ale), Fellporter (porter), and Stout & Stormy (stout). They fill growlers at Alabaster House, and most drinking establishments in Fellport have all of these flavors on tap at any given time.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Part of T.W.Wombat's Lore 24 project, detailing the world around Fellport.</span><br /><span>For all city posts, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#FellportIndex">Fellport Index</a><span>. For posts about the wider world, see the </span><a href="http://gamerblog.twwombat.com/2024/01/the-fellport-almanac.html#BeneterraIndex">Beneterra Index</a><span>.</span></span></div>Jim Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238994819794067525noreply@blogger.com0