Chapter 72 Stormgate

[Luopo]

Deciding that he would hold off on his Charm of Making, given he had no guarantees and the place they wanted to go to next didn't allow spellcasting upon pain of death, Cormack joins the group in sailing to Stormgate to the east of Jasrel, approximately 3.5 days away. The crew of the Wayward Moon were none too happy about it--this last minute notice to get the ship ready to sail, and some were still hungover from the late night that had, but they were a competent crew of four sailors, a cook and cabin boy.

The sail there was even and steady, no encounters along the way as was usual for hugging the coast along this very well used trade route back and forth from Jasrel to Stormgate--something Zavros well knew. In three and a half days the ship arrived at port during the evening and berthed. The customary paperwork was filled out during which the group and crew learned from the harbormaster that any trips to Banto should be reconsidered, since it was no more. How it had happened was unknown, since anyone who went there were attacked by all manner of "machines" and what not, but what they saw was a burned and destroyed city. The dome was cracked and shattered in areas and none of the Gnarr that lived inside were seen.

Once the paperwork was done, the captain of the ship turned to Zavros, "Whats your orders sir?"

[zebsen]

Axar whistled softly at hearing about Banto. His curiosity was certainly peaked at hearing the news. He was also sad as well. While Terri was mischievous, Axar had fond memories of his brief time there previously. Had the city been overrun a year ago, it's doubtful that he'd have ever recovered Kinslayer or put his brothers spirit to rest.

He looks at Althir and says, "You remember the place that we're heading?"

[Arkady]

Hildegard asks what Inn or taverns might suit for an evening of eating and story telling with locals and travellers. She asks the crew. She asks the laborers, the dock-folk guards and constabulary.

Spend 10 gp. Deducted from sheet

persuasion - (d20+5) (17) [22]

[Luopo]

Down here in the docks Hilde gets a variety of answers, but the one that seemed to get the most mention was the tavern, "Humpy's."

[xcylla]

Althir responded to Axar, "The news about Banto is troubling. We'll need to inquire about trade between Fennon and Stormgate and are there any caravans. If there are not any caravans to Fennon, then our choices are to travel alone or return to Jasrel on foot, retrieve our horses and travel from Jasrel to Fennon."

[Spellblade]

Zavros addresses his crew, "You have the night off. Tomorrow I need to make arrangements to have the ship retrofitted and to have you lot trained to fly the new ship."

[Luopo]

The captain nods and lets the rest of the crew know whats going on, then they disembark the ship, leaving the Moonlit Swords and Tru standing on the pier.

[Arkady]

"I would like for us to go as a group to an inn or tavern to see and learn. Despite the name, Humpy's is recommended. We should stick together. If any prefer to remain here, we all will," says Hildegard.

[zebsen]

Axar looked oddly at Hildegard. He was genuinely intrigued by the tavern name Humpy’s. He shrugged and seconded the decision to head to the fine establishment.


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[Arkady]

"Axar, will you help me ask for news? I will ask about unusual events that occured here on and shortly after after we destroyed the circle in Hel," Hildegard asks.

[Arkady]

Heading to Humpy's, lead by Hildegard, the sea priestess is mindful of the baby girl fostered by the church of Ceara. This is one of two sent to Moloch before the party could destroy the teleportation circle. Hildegard mindful that the baby may have come from Stormgate. Certainly the cult to Moloch had members here. Certainly they had a circle.

Has it only been a month since they sundered the circle in Hel? Hildegard's line of investigation is to see if something changed here in Stormgate, something about orphanages or children, good or ill, that might fit with a death cult thwarted. She is intentionally circumspect, accepting that since she is being careful, she may not learn anything.

She covers her inquiries with general questions about events that would have occurred around at theme the circle was destroyed.

She spends up to 50 gp

investigate - (d20+5) (6) [11]

[Luopo]

The group find's Humpy's to be a happening place. Plenty of booze, light snacks and a plethora of prostitutes. The fact they didn't allow clerics in Stormgate to rid the populace of diseases, especially STD's, this place was probably what they called a "fire empire".

Buying drinks and asking question after question about the month prior, Hildegard gets a lot of attention--mainly to join one or more men in bed, but nothing about anything unusual that may have happened after the removal of Moloch.

[xcylla]

Althir mingled with the patrons of Humpy’s. The warlock had grown up in the caravanserai with people who worked hard and drank harder. Althir ordered drinks at a table of working men, then engaged the patrons about news of trade routes to Jasrel, Banto, and Fennon. The fendari then listened for news about what happened in Banto and the caravanserai. If no one mentions Fennon, he’ll inquire directly about trade with Fennon.

Action: buy drinks up to 25 gold.
Investigation roll
(d20+6) (2) [8]

[Lycanthus]

Ivar sits, with his back against a wall, watching the room and the others whilst drinking his ale and eating some food.

His "Caster" pin is safety tucked away in a pocket - where he had placed it before leaving the Ship. For all intents and purposes he is just a bowman....enjoying an evening out with friends.

[LordFluffy]

By comparison, Cormack practically looks like another person. He still has his turban, but his rune carved staff is absent, left at his home in Jasrel. His scroll cases are in his pack leaving space for extra daggers on his belt, though currently he just bears one. Sebastian, his crow, is no where to be seen. Instead of robes, he wears studded leather, though it's obvious it's not seen much use.

Even more laconic than usual, he nurses an ale and sits near Ivar, looking for all the world like a random thug, albeit one new to the profession.

[Luopo]

Moving about and plying the other customers there about trade routes, in particular Fennon Goroth, Althir doesn't learn much that he doesn't already know, with the exception that with Banto destroyed, the mountain route to Fennon from Stormgate was all but closed. If there was trade to occur with Fennon, they would have to go the long way--first to Jasrel, then Guennerva, then onward to Fennon, which was a 6 week walk on foot, or 3 weeks by horse. Caravan pay was still good, to the common man, at 1gp per day if walking, 2gp a day if you had your own horse--meals included.

[xcylla]

Althir studies the room. It finally dawned on him what Axar had inquired about earlier. The fendari made a mental note to tell the dwarro that their investigation in Stormgate involved the guild of Scriveners. The warlock hadn't decided on a plan of action. The ring had belonged to Arin Albright and Althir feared asking questions about Arin might alert Alistair somehow. The fendari wondered about the relationship between Bisorin and Arin. How did Bisorin get a ring with Arin's inscription? Was Arin in league with Phaedra and hid it from the Moonlit Swords with his story about the tree? Was there a cabal of Phaedra's followers in Stormgate.

[zebsen]

Axar approaches the barkeep. He is polite and says, "Hello good sir. We just arrived in, and we're not familiar with the city. I was curious if there was a local hang-out for dwarro in town?"

He places 5 gold on the counter, hoping to jar a positive response from him.

persuasion - (d20+4) (7) [11]

[Arkady]

While some of the offerors flattered, trysts were not her way. She settles in a chair, no further ahead in her investigation. Perhaps she should have spoken with fewer men? She looks about the room at the women.

perception - observations on the women here - (d20+9) (20) [29]

[Luopo]

The bartender takes the 5 gold offered by Axar and says, "The dwarro don't much come down this way to the docks--not since the dwarf toss incident of 1016. Nearly all of them stick to the northeast side of town where the gate to the mines are. Ain't many of them, maybe 40 or so, but that's where they tend to hang out."