Episode One

"Name's Alibastar," he responded to Bear's introduction. "It would be a pleasure to assist in your guard." He waits a moment, then speaks forth again. "My family went missing when the group came through, I'll do anything I can in hopes of finding them."

Torfinn clasps Swift's hands, and mutters "Il make sure your family won't be in any danger soon", then turns to bear "Captain Torfinn Haakonsson, 48th Shield Brigade, New Army of Gold (OCC: still tossing this around)." As he saluted in authoritative fashion. "What's the sitrep?"

Linen bows and thanks you all again before leading her family into the keep.

Escobert responds to each of you in turn:

[Nocturne]

"Aye, the top of the keep overlooks the entire town. Unfortunately I've had to close it off for the time being what with that damned dragon flying about. Sodding thing hasn't done anything other than swoop around, which I s'pose I'm grateful for. Still, I'll need to take it down sooner or later. Once I've had a chance to get everything organized 'round here, I'll be sending a battalion to shoot the overgrown lizard out of the sky. Aside from that, the only vantage points are the windows on every side of the keep. I've got guards stationed at all of them scouting the situation. Speaking of which, they're due to report soon."

[Gwen]

"Treasureyes... why does that name ring a bell?" Bear narrows his eyes and scratches his chin for a few moments. Suddenly he erupts in a great, booming laugh. "WELL SOD ME RIGHT IN THE BEARD! YOU'VE GOT SOME TIMING SOLDIER!" He continues laughing until his face matches the color of his beard. He notes the troubled civilians glaring at him and makes an effort to calm himself, taking a series of deep breaths occasionally broken with a brief chuckle or sputter. "Well we ain't got much use for you in the kitchen, but a bow'll sure come in handy! Glad to have you aboard! Wait, wasn't there supposed to be another one with you?"

[Al - remember that most of your family is accounted for, Talis is missing]

"Got a great many folks still looking for their families here. If you've got a name you can give me, I'll keep an ear out for you. Glad to have you aboard."

[Torfinn]

Bear's eyes light up, "48th Shield Brigade!? 25th, meself!" Bear locks arms with Torfinn and performs a complicated maneuver that's somewhere between a handshake and a dance. After a few (confusing) moments he lets go and bows to Torfinn. "Cannot tell you what it means to me to have a Shield Brother here in our time of need. You are most welcome indeed!"

"Now, since introductions are out of the way, I say we go speak with Governor Nighthill. He'll no doubt have a task for you lot, and my scouts are due to report any minute now. If you've got no more questions, let's get going."

[Feel free to post anymore questions you have for Escobert right now, or if you're good to go, give me an okay on Messenger.]

"My friend Talis went missing last night, having an extra set of ears would be great, thank you. Let's see the Governor," Alibastar says enthusiastically.

"I can seek out your guard report, if you point me the way to the captain. I may also be of use healing the injured, if you could also provide me directions to the infirmary."

"Sergeant Grant was ambushed by the louts attacking Greenest, and is currently at the Journey's End Inn sleeping it off because the wuss can't take one little dagger in the face." Gwen keeps talking as the others answer Linen. "Sure, he can stand on walls all day, never blinking an eye and staying awake, or at least I think he's awake the whole time, I suppose I wouldn't really know having never been on guard duty with him since I'm always in the kitchens making sure the food doesn't end up giving everyone food poisoning. I wonder if the food poisoning would make Grant actually blink and eye? He certainly wouldn't be able to stand still through his shift and he certainly wouldn't be able to sleep! Maybe I'll under cook his next meal to find out? No, that would be mean, especially after he got stabbed in the face. Well not actually in the face face, more of just in the body region. Actually not really in the face at all. Not that he wouldn't have deserved it. He didn't even tie up our horses or the wagon properly! So you'll have to doc his pay for that. On top of missing work because he got stabbed in the face. So you should probably just tell him he has to work for free for the next month or two, to replace the horses and wagon. But I think if you actually tell him that he might not come here, and he might just marry the pretty girl who works at the inn, instead. They seemed to connect, what with her doting on him after getting stabbed in the face and her not looking like she just got stabbed in the face, I think their babies would look really good, and he could take over the bar when the fat man who gave me my room key (he was very nice, mind you, just fat) decides to retire, and then they can run the bar and Grant can call it the "I Got Stabbed in the Face Once for Being a Pratt to a Bunch of Looney Cultists" Bar and it'll attract all kind of attention and if he's lucky then he won't even get stabbed in the face again by anybody!" Gwen is no longer looking at Linen, but is turned away from him, talking to the world at large.

Torfinn let's out a bit of a chuckle "25th, eh? I herd you guys were quite the element. Had you known In advance about these scum raiding the town, I doubt we would have arrived here to find any left, but the number of people I see in here proves you did your part to keep them safe." Torfinn give bear a hardy pat on the shoulder "Let's go see the governor, I'm itchin to show you what the 48th can do"

[@ Al]

"I'll make sure to spread the word. Once things get settled down in here I'll be sending a few people around to collect names."

[@ Nocturne]

"The Infirmary is well staffed enough right now. Got a few priests as well as our usual medics. If you'd like, you can head down there to see if summat can be done about your legs." [If you'd like to do that, let me know and I'll make a separate post for you.]

[@ Gwen]

Escobert stares blankly for a moment. "Erm... Is she always like this?"

[@ Torfinn]

"Aye, let's do just that."

______________________________________________________________________________

Escobert motions for those of you who have chosen to see the Governor to follow him.

You tag along as he hastily navigates down corridors crowded with soldiers and civilians alike. The dwarf leads you up a few circular flights of stairs in the tower at the southeast corner of the keep. He slows at the fourth landing and you enter a torchlit room stuffy with smoke. Bookshelves and various tapestries line the walls. A few highly-decorated soldiers (presumably officers) mill about a table in the center of the room, upon which is spread a large map of Greenest dotted with colored stone markers. To either side of the map are a pair of hands firmly planted on the table as the man they belong to stands, bent almost horizontally over it, studying the situation intensely. Escobert clears his throat as he takes a step into the room. Seeing him, the soldiers in the room stand at attention and salute. Escobert returns the salute and the soldiers relax, returning to their previous occupation.

The man standing over the table straightens. He is tall with long, dark brown hair and goatee; an older man, likely in his sixties. He is dressed in chain with plated greaves and bracers; over his armor is a fine blue silk tunic and cape, emblazoned on the chest with the roaring face of a golden lion. His tunic is stained with blood and a bandage covers the right side of his face.



"Ah, Bear! There you are!" the man says as he looks up, "Right on time, the scouts have just reported in. Come, take a loo--oh! You've brought more people. I don't believe I've met them. They're not from town, are they?"

Escobert bows, "Governor Nighthill, these here folk have been chasing the invaders from the Journey's End tavern. They saved Swift and her family and helped them reach the keep safely. The short one here is our timely new recruit out of Baldur's Gate," he looks at Gwen with a big grin and a wink, "the rest are traveling companions of hers. Our other new recruit was wounded when the invaders attacked Journey's End, but he is recovering and no one else was hurt." Escobert introduces each of you by name, and Governor Nighthill approaches you as he does so.

"Please, forgive my manners," the Governor says as he shakes each of your hands,"My name is Tarbaw Nighthill and I am the Governor of Greenest, though Bear likely told you that already. You have my thanks for coming to the aid of my people. Let us save formalities for later, however, as I have more pressing concerns than observing the courtly graces. I know Bear, and he would not have brought you to me if he didn't think you could be of assistance, so come and let me brief you on the situation."

Nighthill walks you over to the map and plants his index finger just below the hill on the southeast side of the keep. "It has been a very long time since our town has been attacked. We are not, however, without safety protocols in case such a thing occurs. At the bottom of the hill is the entrance to a tunnel that leads into the cellar of the keep. It is meant to look like a sewage drain to outsiders. When the keep was built, the tunnel was created as a means of sneaking in water from the stream in case of a siege. Over the years, it was also used as a means of getting civilians into the keep without being spotted. Most of the townsfolk should know about it. The problem is that not only is the gate locked, the cellar entrance is also blocked with stacks of crates. Opening up the tunnel would also give us the benefit of being able to send out spies and scouts in secret. I would be in your debt if you could perform this task for me."

"I think I will be more useful being able to walk. I'll go down to the infirmary and get that looked at."

Alibastar stares down to the map as the governor explains the situation. He looks up to the man when he's finished, "I'd love to help, when do we head out?"

Torfinn scoffs to himself as he enters the room, seeing the officers standing over the map reminded him of all the time he spent in prepping troops for battle.Being in the theater of war uplifted him slightly. He scans the map as they approached to acquaint him with the situation. Once the governor finished, torfinn bowed slightly as he spoke "It would be my honor to assist you with this task".

Gwen looks around the room, and when everyone clusters around the table, she realizes she's not quite tall enough to see anything that high up in any sort of reasonable fashion. So she stands at ease. Then, because halflings cannot actually stand still, she starts vibrating.

[Nocturne]

You follow behind Linen and her family to the infirmary. Linen carries the two younger children, cooing and soothing them as they fall asleep with their heads on her shoulders. The eldest son assists his father as Cuth begins to show signs that his injuries may have been a bit more severe than he had let on. He hobbles a bit more, clutching his side as he goes. Blood is beginning to spread across his shirt.

Just as you notice the blood, you and the Swifts turn a corner and enter into a noisy and brightly lit room. The room is a large chamber with beds lining all sides and beds set up in three orderly rows filling the center. Many of the beds are filled already with people in various states of pain or sleep. Plainly clad medics bustle about, taking care of minor injuries and doling out potions to aid with healing or sleeping. Five priests in plain white robes tend to the more serious injuries; holding their hands above wounds, a golden light radiates and the wounds begin to mend. The injured men and women cry out in pain as this happens before falling quickly unconscious.

One of the medics approaches Cuth Swift and, grabbing him by the arm, escorts him to an unoccupied bed. Linen points her children toward a side door and you briefly hear the sound of other children in the next room as they leave through the door. Linen then walks over to her husband's bed and draws the curtain shut.

As you hobble further into the room, a priest spots you and takes a few brisk strides to meet up with you. You notice a golden emblem of a rose over a sheaf of grain hanging from a chain around his neck, the symbol of Chauntea, goddess of agriculture. Wordlessly, the grey-bearded man looks you over, patting various spots on your legs and making "tut" noises under his breath. He moves you a few feet toward the nearest bed and has you lay down. Once you are settled, he speaks his first words to you: "This will hurt."

The priest places his hands firmly on your mangled legs and begins muttering a prayer. Bright golden light emanates from his hands and you suddenly feel like your legs are burning. A sharp CRACK fills the air and you fight the urge to vomit as pain overcomes your whole body. Your bones break and set themselves, the holy fire mending the damage. CRACK. Your legs break and set again in a different spot and the hot, acidic contents of your stomach force their way further up into the back of your mouth. The fire burns hotter. CRACK. This time you do vomit. CRACK. You pass out from the pain.

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

You awake to the sound of a hoarse wail. Your legs ache immensely. Your vision is momentarily blurry as you open your eyes. You see the dark shape of a very large man howling and flailing his arms all over his body. As your vision clears, you see Sam with a red, inflamed rash all over his body, scratching himself frantically. A medic tries desperately and unsuccessfully to quiet him as he is guided toward an open bed.

______________________________________________________________________________

[Al, Gwen, Torfinn]

Escobert guides you hastily through the hallways toward the cellar. You follow along as you descend seemingly endless flights of stairs. He stops suddenly at a door, grabs a torch from a wall sconce, lights it, and hands it to Al. He fumbles at his belt for a moment before producing a massive ring holding hundreds of keys. Without even searching through them he grabs one, shoves it into the lock, twists, and the door swings open into a room so pitch-dark that the torch's light doesn't cut into it. Bear grabs the torch and bustles into the room. In mere seconds, every torch in the room is lit and the room is dimly illuminated. As you step in, you smell nothing but dust. A cobweb wraps itself around Al's face. The room is much the same as any cellar: boxes and barrels everywhere, piled high against the walls and in the middle of the chamber. You carefully maneuver through makeshift pathways until you reach the back wall, yet again crates piled high.

"Behind this mess is the entrance to the old tunnel. We'll just have to clear it the old fashioned way," Bear says, flexing his arms, "Unless you've got a better idea."

Hoarse at first, I try to speak to Sam. "Sam... Sam... *Cough*
Hey, what did you get into now? Calm!"

I'll make a Medicine Check to identify the rash. (Didn't know Hermits gain proficiency in Medicine and Religion) [6+r13=19]

"Come here, I see what I can do if you calm yourself." I look over to the nearest priest and ask "How is Cuth doing? Oh, do you have any books I could borrow?"

Gwen looks calmly up at Bear and says without blinking, "Well, we could burn down the boxes, but that would probably mean losing all of the contents, and then the rest of the room would probably catch on fire, killing us in the inferno."

[Nocturne]

You are able to discern that Sam's affliction is simple poison ivy. He must've been careless while sitting by the river bank and gotten into some of it. His swollen mouth and lack of ability to say actual words suggests he might've tried (hopefully not succeeded) to eat some, as well. As you speak to him, he turns and starts blubbering and frantically trying to speak. He again loses control and begins scratching and flailing. The medic who is with him says, "Don't worry, we'll get him sorted out. You need to rest." She leads Sam away and you watch as she gives him a large draught of sleeping tonic. He lays flat with a deep THUD and the medic sets to mixing a salve in a stone bowl.

The priest who healed you, noting that you've awakened, comes over and pokes your legs in a few spots. "Looks good," he says, "Only out for 20 minutes, give or take. You must be made of some strong stuff. You're going to be sore for a while, but you should be able to move about properly now. The Castellan wanted me to send word that your friends who were with you have gone to open up the old tunnel under the keep. He expects them to return in an hour at most. Oh, and the Swifts send their regards and would like me to inform you of Cuth's recovery. He is resting now, and Linen has gone with her children to the barracks to sleep off the fright they've had."

At your request for a book, the old man thinks for a moment, then holds up a finger as if to signal an epiphany. He trots off, only to return with a large tome: a dry-looking manifesto entitled The Ideologies and Practices of the Church of Chauntea, Fourth Edition. "The fourth edition is not very popular," the priest says, "but it has a few good ideas, and it's attempt at simplicity is admirable, though somewhat distanced from the real heart of the subject matter."

___________________________________________________________________________________

[Gwen]

Escobert stares blankly at you, eyes blinking slowly. "I... er... uh... no," he says, "No, let's not do that." He then begins to grumble under his breath something that sounds like "Sodding exchange program."

Annoyed, Alibastar wipes the web from his face, and keeps an eye out as they carry on, trying to avoid more. "Well, since burning is out of the question," Alibastar says playfully while walking toward the obstruction, patting Gwen on the back consolingly, "guess we may as well get going on. We got this." [Bardic inspiration on Gwen] He reaches out and grabs ahold of a box. [Str check, 20(roll)+0(mod)=20]
A surge of energy flows through him, and Alibastar takes charge on the move, effortlessly passing off the first box to his nearest companion.

Torfinn thinks of the room surrounded in fire and his fists check tightly as his gaze focuses on another time. He snaps out of it as a box is thrust in front of him. Seeing that Alibastar had started to move boxes, Torfinn's decides to make a competition of it and spring into action to move more boxes out of the way then Alibastar can. [Strength check: 18+5=23]

Gwen watches calmly with the practiced patience and authority of someone who is used to overseeing mundane tasks being done, but also refrains from saying anything in the same way that someone who doesn't know how to perform any specific tasks and wants to keep anyone from noticing that that is the case refrains from saying anything.

Al, without realizing it, grabs a crate from the floor which actually had 7 other boxes stacked on top of it. He moves them effortlessly out of the way, only noticing what he just did after setting them down. He breathes a sigh of relief, thankful that he remembered to lift with the legs.

Torfinn valiantly presses on with the task, moving five crates in mere seconds.

The wall is farther back than anyone realized at first. 13 crates have been moved so far and the end is not quite in sight.

[Score: Al - 8; Torfinn - 5; Gwen - Maybe a booger while no one was looking?]

"They're doing a good job, wouldn't you say, Escobert?" Gwen nods appreciatively. "Makes a woman feel good, knowing she's surrounded by men who are strong, as well as ready and willing to act." She pauses and looks at him thoughtfully. "Putting you to shame a bit, aren't they, sir?" (Persuasion 17 = 13r + 4) "But I suppose they are younger than you."

Alibastar, a little impressed by his feat, attempts to keep up the pace. (Strength 9+0=9)

Torfinn laughs to himself in enjoyment as he watches the others attempt to catch up to his pace, but never does he slow his efforts (strength check: 16 + 5 = 21)

Escobert the Red earns his nickname, turning a violent shade of red as Gwen comments on his age. He grumbles and trudges over to a different section of wall and begins moving crates. Gwen catches a few snippets, including "Sodding exchange program."

Meanwhile, Al, bolstered by his previous feat, attempts to grab another far-too-tall stack of crates. He strains and grunts, finally managing to lift a stack 5-high off the ground. As he begins to straighten, however, the stack topples over and 2 of the crates burst, spilling root-vegetables all over the floor. Al if left with one crate in hand, which he sheepishly sets aside as Bear buries his face in his hands.

Next to him, Torfinn continues at a breakneck pace, moving 6 crates while dancing around spilled potatoes and carrots, barely aware of their presence.

[Torfinn - 11; Alabastar - 8; Gwen - Possible booger and an embarrassed commanding officer]

"WHAT IN THE NAME OF SOD ARE YOU STANDING AROUND FOR!?!?" Escobert screams as he turns around. Al and Torfinn perk up at the sound of the dwarf's rage. Wide-eyed, and with carrots still hanging from their mouths, they mumble apologies.

"That's alright, you weren't looking in the right spot anyways. I found the door over here. Hey... wait a second. Where did the halfling go?"

Gwen pops out of the open crate of potatoes and waves a potatoed hand, still chewing a bite.

Bear shakes his head and let's out a long, slow sigh. "Alright, get over here. I'm going to open up the tunnel for you so you can get a move on. I trust you won't get distracted by any mushrooms you find in there?"

Everyone turns and faces the door they entered from as they hear a loud shout of "WAAAAIIIIIT!" Moments later, Nocturne comes running through the door. "It was awful! They were trying to make me read outdated theology! Can I come with you?"

Bear finishes unlocking the tunnel entrance and hands Nocturne a key from his ring. "This key will unlock the gate at the bottom. I trust you with it more than these ones." Bear turns and faces the rest of the group, "Come find me after you're done and I'll have another task for you. I will be in the room where you met the Governor. Oh, and before I forget, there's no light in the tunnel, but if you'd like, you can take a torch or two from the wall. Proceed however you'd like, just make sure you're not discovered. If you are discovered, make sure you leave no witnesses, if you catch my meaning."

With that, Bear leaves you staring down the entrance to the dark and drafty tunnel.