LPDnD: In Too Waterdeep

[Blackferne]

She glares at Syric. "Tony Plush died in the Battle of the Green Sea defending a fort. Everyone knows that. Are you dull? That man is not Tony Plush. And I don't take kindly to folks who play on his memory!" Her tone is somewhere between insulted and angry. She doesn't seem physically hostile though.

[Whiteness]

"The Battle of the Green Sea? When did that happen?" Syric asks honestly. "I'm sorry, I've been...away from civilization for a while. But surely, if you've heard the stories of Tony Plush you can't think a little thing like death would stop him!" he chuckles.

[Staris]

Stavis will pay for a drink and head to the table. "I can assure you, as for as long as I have know him he as always been Tony Plush and I don't know if it would truly be fair to judge a man by his name alone, when one usually has little control of it."

Diplomacy +4
[dice]0[/dice]

[Blackferne]

Stavis' attempt to calm her does not seem to work "You must be a fool then (referring to syric) because that battle happened a ways back. It is partly why we are in this mess now. And where could you have gone where you heard of Tony Plush and didn't know he 'ad died. That man is conning you lot. I hope you haven't given him any of your gold."

[Whiteness]

"A ways back, you say? How far back are you talking? As to where I've been...well it involved a lot of spiritual contemplation and communing with my personal deities. I like to think I'm in a better place now, but clearly I don't know what's going on. What is this mess that the battle caused? We saw all the people crammed into the city."


diplomacy
[dice]0[/dice]

[Blackferne]

"You are a nimwit aren't ya? A real proper dim man and all that. The mess we're in? The mess with the Armies seeping in from the north and the east. Sagemoor being sacked, Faycrest falling? In all your navel gazing you never noticed the world's falling apart at the seams?" Your diplomacy doesn't change her tone at all.

[Jimer Lins]

"My lady, we are but newly arrived to Waterdeep of late and have been away from all contact with civilization for some time- in fact, even we don't know exactly how long. I realize it seems peculiar, but where we were, our hosts did not connect with the outside world, and the passage of time was not marked well, and after long enough, one loses its thread. Now that we have returned from our journey, my companion is asking honest questions and does not intend to vex anyone."

Trinal smiles at her. "Tell me about this Battle of the Green Sea. I'm curious to know what it was."

Diplomacy: d20+23=18+23=41

[Whiteness]

Syric was about to get a bit more forceful until the other halfelf stepped in.

[Blackferne]

"Were you captured by the drow or some shiat? The battle of Green Sea took place seventy years ago. Even if Tony survived, which everyone knows he didn't, there is no way that young man over there is him." Her attitude is positive towards Trinal, pity towards Syric. Indifferent towards Victae and Stavis, and still seems angry towards Tony. Note: She called Tony a young man (he is about 20). She looks roughly the same age.

[Jimer Lins]

Trinal blinks, and his composure slips a bit. "Seventy years?"

His face goes white. "Father...", he whispers.

After a moment, he shakes his head and returns to the present. But a sadness is in his eyes now. "How do you know of Tony Plush if he died so long ago?" he asks, quietly. He signals for beer and food when an opportunity arises, and will buy the lady a glass of whatever she's drinking. "Also, what is your name? Mine is Trinal."

[Blackferne]

Upon hearing 'seventy years' Victae just starts laughing. "That is just great. We are all just toys to them aren't we?"

This gets a weird look from the woman.

"My name is Sadie and my grandmother was a friend of Tony Plush, she taught me to honor his sacrifice and not take kindly to people who abuse his name."

[Jimer Lins]

Trinal realizes his error and says "I'm sorry, I should clarify something. I had a..." he seems to be casting about here- "...relative, named Trinal, who also knew Tony Plush and was at the Battle of the Green Sea with him, and for whom I was named in honor."

He glances around the table at the group. "I will let Tony explain his reasons, Sadie. But you may rest assured that upon my honor, he has not brought any dishonor to Tony Plush's name, and in fact, well... Damm.

It is... complicated. Will you please withhold your opprobrium, at least for now? We have some questions, and I imagine many of them will seem strange to you. We would rely on your knowledge and your discretion."

Diplomacy: 18+23=41

[Blackferne]

"I didn't know there was a Trinal at the Battle of the Green Sea. Is this like one of those 'My great great grandfather was the King of Alzears?'" She asks.

Basically that question in current context would be like the % of americans who claim 1/16th native american ancestory, or had a relative who rode over on the mayflower.

[Jimer Lins]

"Time for a history lesson, then. What happened at the Battle of the Green Sea, and why is Tony so well-remembered? Or is it something peculiar to your family?"

[Furiel]

"Look, Sadie there are things that we as a group cannot talk about here, and some we should not talk about at all. You honor the memory of the man Tony Plush was and that does you credit. Let me assure you the this man before you who calls himself Tony Plush does and will do the same. Tony Plush is a man of his word, you know this. Tony Plush now gives you his word that this legacy you are such a fierce defender of, you will be proud of what Tony Plush does going forward building on that legacy. Now my friends do not exaggerate, we have been on another plane for many years, would you please fill us in on what has occurred in the intervening time."

Diplomacy: [dice]0[/dice]

[Blackferne]

The dagger eyes have been de-escalated to neutral eyes.

"70 years ago the Duke and Baron of Belholt were visited by the Swashbuckler Tony Plush and his merry men."

Victae rolls her eyes at "men"

"The Duke had word of a barbarian army amassing and Tony vowed that he would slaughter every last one. The famous decree "Tony Plush will save Belholt as surely as the sun will rise" was spoken, and Tony and his merry men were off to fight the barbarians. When they got there the fort found themselves hopelessly outnumbered. Instead of retreating in haste and warning the duke of the barbarians numbers he shouted 'Tony Plush will follow you scallywags to the gates of hell!' and the battle commenced. While they band of merry men were able to slay the demon worshiping prince of the barbarians, they were not able to survive the wave after wave of barbarians. It was a noble defeat. Only one person lived from the fort, Professor DK Gladdenstone who managed to get back to Belholt too late to warn them against the barbarians who had ridden nonstop from the battle to start raiding the village.

This was the start of the barbarian invasion and the Rise of the Chulassa Empire. They sacked Sagemoore who were also caught unawares. They took everything on the eastern shelf. Villages and cities were enslaved. Those who resisted were slaughtered. Refugees ran west looking for support.

In the North the forces of Bha'al rose from deep within the mountains and have conquered Faycrest and worked their way south along the coast to probably 250 miles north of here. The mountains are controlled by Bha'al's forces known as the Army of Blood. There is a three way war going on between the Chulassa, the Army of Blood, and what is known as a the Mortal's Army.

Waterdeep has become the capital of this crumbling nation with more refugees that it can support. Young men are being conscripted to fight. People are assigned to communal farms or mines. Times are bleak.

People look at the Battle of the Green Sea and think if only Tony Plush had ran instead of fought. And so some bastards call it Plush's Folly. And to those I spit at them and teach them what's right."

[Blackferne]

"Barkeep three bottles of red!" Victae shouts holding up a few gold. Looking at the table "Did you guys want anything?"

[Jimer Lins]

Trinal looks down at the table. "I'll gladly have a glass of that, Victae. Thank you."

Quietly, he says, "So, our failure comes to haunt us again."

To Sadie, he says "So Bha'al's forces are the Army of Blood. Has Bha'al himself been seen or just his minions? The Empire of Chulassa was set up by the barbarians, correct? Who do they worship? And lastly, pray tell us of the Mortal's Army."

"Would you like some wine, Sadie?" he asks.

Diplomacy: d20+23=18+23=31 (yes, three 18s in a row, I know. Dice are being nice to me for now.)

[Blackferne]

"Barkeep make that 5 bottles of Red." Victae says "I'm sorry the first three are for me." She says to Trinal straight faced.

"Sure I'll have a glass."Sadie says "Well the Army of Blood doesn't supposedly have Bha'al back, but they are always attempting something to that end. As for the Chulassa Empire is the barbarians and the Professor says that they worship Orcus. And the Mortal's army is what is left of the Kingdom's of the West. It is an alliance. King Gavin the IVth is the unifying figure as Waterdeep is his city, but there are half a dozen other monarchs in the city and scores of armies doing their best to defend what we have left."

[Jimer Lins]

Trinal perks up and smiles at Victae. Turning back to Sadie he says "The Professor's alive? Please tell me he's here in Waterdeep."

[Blackferne]

"He's in Waterdeep. Serves as an analyst for the war effort under some general. I didn't pay attention last time he mentioned who it was." Sadie says.

The bottles arrive. Victae takes her three and hands the other two to Trinal.

pop Huge swigs.

[Whiteness]

Syric stares hard at the girl telling her story, his left eye twitching ever so slighlty as he hears the horrors and atrocities that have happend because of them. He is angry. Angry at the gods. Angry at the barbarians. Angry he can't slaughter the ones who killed him. Angry at the unfairness of it all.

He had found a purpose, now it seems futile. Why would the Bureau task them for this and then put them in the future where the enemy is even stronger than before?

[Jimer Lins]

Trinal makes sure to get a glass to Sadie and the others at the tabel, then proposes a toast: "To Tony Plush and his band of merry men!" Trinal winks at Victae on the last, and drains his glass.

Putting the glass down, he says "Sadie I have one other question- what can you tell me of Thurwood." (ooc- that's where I came from, Joun, although I never specified exactly where it was in relation to Belholt).

[Furiel]

"Yes, there are words that should be said to him. Some very strong words. Thank you for bringing us up to speed Sadie. Tony Plush does still have one question though, have you heard any rumors about a cult of the dead or some Vampires named Vlad and Viggo?"

Tony looks a bit stricken right now and he's speaking in fairly quiet and reserved tones you normally don't hear from him.

[Blackferne]

"Thurwood? I'm not sure I ever heard of it. The Professor probably has. He has maps and books and everything. And a lot of paintings which look like her now that I think about it." Sadie takes a quizical look at Victae who suddenly becomes very self aware.

Turning to Tony
"I don't know who they are or what the cult of the dead is."