LPDnD: We Come From the Land of the Ice and Snow!

[Blackferne]

Previously on Let's Play DnD: Alvis Edition

After death to the hands of horse riding barbarians, the party is engaged in a series of tests and training to prove worthiness to the angel Nicholas on behalf of a council of Deities and their afterlife bureaucracy Bureau 17. After travelling to an island with puzzles, and what appears to be ancient history, the party finds themselves in Faycrest during the era of seaman raiders and pillagers. Working for the Duke they are paired up with the brother's Viggo and Vlad to find and stop the charismatic leader Mumford.

Mumford is reportedly on one of the old island seaforts built by the old empire. After investigating a fe wislands, and having a scuffle with some lackeys, the party has found out that Mumford is a disciple of Bha'al and discovered a calendar indicating some event is happening tonight on the new moon. They have arrived at port in the morning seeing Faycrest gearing up for something and there is a commotion.

The party is split:
Vlad, Viggo, Tony, Syric, and Trinal are heading to the Duke to report.
Victae, Spintik, Ham'mon, and Stavis are staying at the port to gather information.

Team Duke:
You arrive at the Duke's place and are past the guards at the hands of Viggo and Vlad who have tremendous repsect from the guards. The place has mobilized and there are servants and pages buzzing about. There are also several older veterans in waiting in the main hall for the duke. Vlad sternly walks past them all as if they weren't there and forcefully pushes the doors open seeing a large table with a map lain out and the duke and few advisers gathered around. Vlad takes a knee.

"My liege, how may I serve?" he asks.

"The boy, my boy has been taken. Kidnapped in the night and all was left was a taunting note from Mumford." The Duke says voice quivering with anger.

"We must mobilize and find him immediately my liege." One of the advisers says.

"But if we come with too large a force, they may kill the boy. Stealth should be used." Another contends.

"Enough. You two bicker like my in laws. Men, report on your investigation."

=--=-=-=--=-=-=-=--=-

Team Port

The fishermen are being told to not go out to fish today in case their boats are needed for an expedition. The soldiers are gathering names of men and boys who know how to work on a boat. There is a rumor the duke's heir has been kidnapped in the middle of the night by a man with bat wings and horns on his head who feasts on blue blood.

[Jimer Lins]

"My lord, we visited several of the island forts and on one of them dispatched a number of raiders and burned two boats. We returned immediately thereafter to report that it appears that this Mumford individual is a disciple of Bha'al. We also have found this item, which appears to indicate that something will be happening tonight- the full moon."

He pauses for a moment. "I would venture to guess that the timing of your son being kidnapped is not a coincidence. But I wonder at the taunting note you mention- what would he possibly have to gain by leaving such?"

[Furiel]

Tony looks at Trinal and whispers "You're thinking the same thing Tony Plush is aren't you...Mumford is going to sacrifice the boy tonight."

[Jimer Lins]

Tony looks at Trinal and whispers "You're thinking the same thing Tony Plush is aren't you...Mumford is going to sacrifice the boy tonight."

Trinal nods almost imperceptibly. "Indeed," he says quietly. His expression is grim.

[Blackferne]

@Trinal

"Did you find information as to the hideout he is based in?" The Duke asked?

[Jimer Lins]

"We believe he would be at one of the two remaining ones, my lord. After our discussions with the raiders, and our discovery of this calendar, we elected to return with all haste, believing that the calendar indicated the timing of an attack, and that Mumford would have set out with his raiders by the time we found which of the two remaining he was at."

He looks at Vlad and Viggo. "Of the two we hadn't yet visited, which do you think is most likely to be their main hideout?"

[Blackferne]

The look at each other and the look at you and say in unison.

"Castle Dread."

Viggo continues "It is the largest of the forts on the two islands we suspect, best upkeep, and has that weird stage which could serve as a..." he realizes that the Duke is in the room "..a centerpiece for his plan."

[Furiel]

"Given the size of the two forts in question, how many men do we think he could reasonably have? It's likely safe to assume that whatever he is planning Mumford is likely to have as many of his followers there as possible."

[Jimer Lins]

"...Castle Dread? How appropriate."

Trinal nods to Tony. "That and how quickly can we get there?"

[Maizan]

Spintik will give his name to one of the soldiers as to someone who knows how to work at boat. He will listen to what the soldiers are saying and what the people are saying. Listening for what has not already been said.
He will also look for able bodied men who are not in uniform and are not fisher persons.
Perception

[Blackferne]

@ Duke Team

"It is a larger complex than we've seen to this point. It could house 40 or more with proper rations. It was originally designed as the outer most base of operations. The island itself had three ports in it's prime. As for time, it would take 4 hours."


@Spintik
Your name is taken and you are instructed not to leave the port area until nightfall or instructed that you have been released. You don't hear much that can be taken as fact, just wild rumors about shapeshifters, and magical fishermen, and mermen working the shore.

[Furiel]

"You also said that Mumford left you a note taunting you, what did the note say, perhaps it would give us some additional clues before we set out."

[Blackferne]

the note

There once was a blue blooded Duke
Who was overdue for a proper rebuke
So I took his eldest son
To introduce some wild fun
Save the boy before he drowns in his puke!

[Whiteness]

"Save the boy...he may just be trying to entice your forces away from the town so he can attack. I think your advisors are correct, you need a small group of highly effective individuals for this task and I believe that is why the gods have led us to your door."

[Jimer Lins]

"Hm. That certainly seems devised to provoke a response. I agree with my colleagues- a small team seems like a good option, rather than possibly leaving the city's defenses weakened."

[Blackferne]

@Duke team

"That may be, but I must save my boy." The duke says with strong emotion.

"My liege, forgive me for this, but you are best served here. These men and their lady friend and their jester are ample warriors who easily dispatched twenty of Mumford's men with minor wounds taken. I can accompany them, and Viggo can as well. We can save your son." Vlad says still kneeling.

[Jimer Lins]

"You have a responsibility to the city as well, my lord. And although Vlad and I don't always agree, on this we do. If your son can be saved, we can do it."

Diplomacy: d20+18: 18+18=36

[Blackferne]

"Dammit, you are right. I hate it, but you are. Gather your crew and travel to Castle dread immediately and save my son, kill Mumford, and bring his head to me." the duke says.

[Jimer Lins]

Trinal doesn't even blink at Vlad's bait, but nods to the Duke. "My lord."

He looks at the rest. "Gentlemen, we have work to do. What preparations do we need to make? We must leave as soon as possible."

[Blackferne]

ooc it was the duke saying that last line not vlad. Also it was Viggo you had problems with Vlad is the affable friendly one!

Vlad rises and instructs his brother to grab his war staff and meet him at the docks.

"Gentlemen, time to be heroes."

You depart for the port.

[Jimer Lins]

ooc it was the duke saying that last line not vlad. Also it was Viggo you had problems with Vlad is the affable friendly one!

Vlad rises and instructs his brother to grab his war staff and meet him at the docks.

"Gentlemen, time to be heroes."

You depart for the port.

ooc- my bad, I thought the "jester" comment was directed at me. Retcon as appropriate.

[Blackferne]

The Jester was about Stavis who is currently dressed as a jester.

[Jimer Lins]

The Jester was about Stavis who is currently dressed as a jester.

Right, I remember now. I plead being stupid.

[Staris]

Stavis and crew will find the any leaders who are willing to listen to let them know about the two remaining islands the barbarians are located as as well as the location of the fisherman that is marooned.

After saying their piece will offer to help in whatever they can. Should they be requested to leave will head back to the tavern for some rest and food.

[Whiteness]

As we make our way to the port we stop to collect the rest of our party and brief them on our meeting with the Duke.