Safe House (in-character thread)

[reefwood]

The safe house is an old Shrine of Aroden that was claimed by the Church of Iomedae after his death but has been long abandoned since House Thrune rose to power. It is located on the south side of the city in Rego Sacero of Parego Spera (Priest Sector of Hope's Altar).


[OOC: Right now this is a quickie job just to get this up. I will try to post some more info before the weekend. Also, I tried attaching a text document with the images at the last session. It goes from left to right and top to bottom starting with Big Brother and ending with Woodsman (Larko), except for Shadow, so skip his name when looking at the images. And "old adult" means they are getting close to "middle age" in appearance, not that they are senior citizens.]

• Mother (Rielle – half-elf female, adult) - long brown hair
  leader of the group, temporarily arrested by Dottari and transferred to Hellknights
  GEAR: *coming soon*
  
  
• Moon (?? – half-elf female, young adult) - short dark brown hair
  sister of Mother, blue hood
  GEAR: *coming soon*
  
  
• Falcon (Javi – Chelish human male, adult) - dark hair with curls, olive skin
  mercenary archer, local Wiscrani
  GEAR: *coming soon*
  
  
• Big Brother (?? – Ulfen human male, adult) - long light brown hair, pale skin, very tall & strong
  greataxe on back, thinks he can take on a dozen Dottari
  GEAR: studded leather*; greataxe, dagger*, light crossbow*
  
  
• Hammer (?? – Chelish human male, young adult) - dark red hair, fair skin
  pair of hammers tucked into belt, smelled like horse, uncle owns horses, reminds others not to kill Dottari or Hellknights
  GEAR: studded leather*; light mace*, light crossbow*
  
  
• Little Brother (?? – Chelish human male, young adult) - brown hair, strong with one arm more muscular, walks with a limp
  opened sewer cover
  GEAR: breastplate (Gendrew); club, light crossbow*
  
  
• Madame (?? – gnome female, unknown age?) - purple/red/yellow hair
  holds her alcohol well, questioned if Big Brother ever swung his axe at someone
  
  
• Quill (?? – Garundi human male, old adult) - well-dressed
  familiar with the legal system
  GEAR: breastplate (Renold); light mace*, dagger*, light crossbow*
  
  
• Rose (?? – Tian human female, adult) - plainly dressed
  quiet and reserved
  GEAR: mw studded leather*; short sword*, dagger*
  
  
• Shadow (?? – Chelish human male, youth) - poorly dressed
  pointed out the symbol of Aroden in the sewers
  GEAR: short sword*, dagger*
  
  
• Sparkle (?? – Chelish human female, young adult) - well-dressed
  adorned in jewelry, including magic rings, proposed bribing the dottari
  GEAR: dagger*
  
  
• Torch (Fiosa Dewlily – halfling female, adult)
  niece of Elmar Fenwsip
  
  
• Whisper (?? – Chelish human female, adult) - plain robe
  quiet but observant
  
  
• Whittler (?? – Chelish human male, adult) - shaggy green hair
  whittles small wooden statues of animals while quietly listening
  GEAR: dagger
  
  
• Woodsman (Larko – Garundi human male, old adult)
  dock worker and regular at the Barley Bitch who is trying to organize dock workers
  GEAR: mw studded leather*; dagger*
  
  *taken off Orphans
  

[reefwood]

[OOC: All the members of the group met thus far are currently available for conversation. This gathering will take place some days after the last session ended. Also, it would be good to know what information the Hopcrushers are willing to share about themselves, their forays into the sewers (orcs, undead, goblins, etc), and the rescue of Rielle (meeting Arik, fighting hellknights, etc).]

[icnivad]

I've been unusually busy with stuff since our last game, and haven't even had a chance to look at the board until today, but I love this location for in-character. I'm a little drunk now, so I won't post anything, but if we don't have a better in-character location after this upcoming game, we should keep this.

-- said Renold

[reefwood]

[OOC: We'll have some time to go over more of this tomorrow at the table, but yes, as long as these NPCs are around, this can be a forum to talk about any previous events.

Also, the level of involvement of the NPCs will be somewhat based on what you choose to do or not do with them. Certain NPCs may have key roles to play or expected fates, and others are more of background players, but to some degree, more or less can be done with them based on player interest and PC actions. However, if anything, they will be most often relegated to helper or off-screen actions, such as the mounted NPCs distracting the mounted armigers, since the PCs are the stars of the show. Also, they may not always be available.

And one other thing I forgot to mention... Rielle can brew healing potions. As a thanks for rescuing her, she offers to brew potions for the Hopcrushers for the time being if they can provide the ingredients. Essentially, if you can buy the ingredients, she will brew them for free, so it adds up to healing potions for half price.]

[reefwood]

Toilday, Neth 30 - End Chapter 1 (part 1)

A meeting of the People's Hand is convened for everyone to touch base, discuss recent events, and lay groundwork for the future.

All listen to the dwarves with the occasional comment or exclamation and are impressed by their handling of The Orphans. Mother sits quietly, already having heard the account, and focuses more on the reactions of others. Moon is difficult to read. Falcon takes this success as a sign that luck is on their side. Little Brother also heard the first telling but is just as attentive this time, especially when Gendrew speaks. Big Brother perks up at the retelling of combat, especially melee, but does not seem to care much for magic. Hammer, on the other hand, pays particular attention to the sorcery of the tieflings, while Sparkle keys in on the use of any spells. Quill seems the least surprised that their leader worshiped the same evil god that is revered by the government. Torch is disgusted by the tieflings' desecration of a holy place. Rose approves of the dwarves' use of words over weapons as their first approach. Whisper is astounded that they walked right up to the door but acknowledges that any approach by this trio would have been rather obvious. Shadow is curious about the tunnels dug out. Whittler is saddened by the fiendish infusion of the dogs, but at least they were put out of their misery. Woodsman knew Gendrew and his kin would be a boon to the group. Madame lets out a hoot or snort or chuckle at seemingly random.

This is clearly a victory for the People's Hand and the citizens of Westcrown, but the question remains... who sponsored The Orphans?


[OOC: Leaving this open for additional comments on the action with The Orphans and aftermath. The next main post will be more about laying the general groundwork for the group and individual thoughts/ideas/goals/methods.]

[reefwood]

Toilday, Neth 30 - End Chapter 1 (part 2)

The various members of the People's Hand share some information about themselves, which provides insight on why they have joined the group.

Mother (Rielle) reiterates her desire to aid the downtrodden and wants the citizenry to see that kindness and generosity are not weaknesses but boons. She does not want to stray too far outside bounds of the law or clash directly with governmental authority but believes that an orderly society can exist without the fear or harshness of diabolism.

Moon values freedom and trust. The spirit of a city is suffocated when half the day must be spent shuttered inside and words of dissent can lead to confinement. Furthermore, contracts based on the values of of fiends -no matter how lawful- are bound to be laced of tricks and deceit.

Falcon (Javi) is a bodyguard by trade. He understands the need for force and that blood must be spilled at times, but he also values life. Far too many are sentenced to death for crimes where imprisonment should suffice, whispers of sacrifices to dark beings grow ever frequent, and bloodsport (in arenas and on stages) has become too common a way to earn coin.

Big Brother hails from the wilds of Varisia where the focus fell on mere survival, and self-reliance was vital. He made his way south alone but has enjoyed the company of Little Brother and may consider staying in Westcrown if conditions improve. He loathes the rigidity of hellknights and boasts that he has always been able to get out of a jam - if not with a imposing glare, than with the axe on his back.

Hammer was raised by an aunt and uncle who were brought together by a love of horses. After nearly two decades of saving coin, they opened a trading stable a last autumn. Without connections to wealth or nobility, they could only find property in Rego Crua. Crime was a concern and reality – stolen tools and saddles. Yet they faired well until this summer when Uncle Jacovo was approached for monthly “protection” payments. He refused at first. A foal fell ill and died within a week. The mare followed a week later. Jacovo reported all this to the dottari, but the investigation went nowhere, and his wife had a riding accident at the end of the month. The straps on her saddle snapped, and she broke a leg in the fall. Jacovo has paid ever since and no longer discusses the matter. Additionally, Hammer wishes to learn more about his parents, but this is another matter of which his adopted parents are tight-lipped. Official paper trails have come up empty, and Hammer wonders if the information was lost to government revisions.

Little Brother grew up hearing of Wiscrani glory and splendor before the fall of Aroden - stories passed quietly for six generations in his family. He also carries on the family trade of smithing. His father did the same until the cost of guild membership was too high and adventuring seemed a better -if more dangerous- source of income. Father returned home or at least sent payment once per year for a decade and a half, but there has been no word in almost three years now. Little Brother wants Westcrown to resemble the days of old when his father finally returns.

Madame finds the curfew bad for business. Brothels and taverns take in more coin when there are no restrictions on the hours their patrons can enter. Also, she would like to see a shake-up of the status quo for the mere sake of it and finds joy in poking the eye of such a humorlessly pious society.

Quill is a scribe for the courts. He has a firm belief in the rule of law but finds a serious lack of justice or fairness in the tenants of Hell. He hopes someday the city will reject Asmodeus and embrace a stern patron who preaches good over evil. Also, he has recently started to discreetly sift through court records to help Hammer and Rose with their familial searches.

Rose has journeyed halfway around the world in search of her brother. They work for a modest spice merchant in northern Tian, and her brother had the ambitious aim of reaching the faraway but profitable markets of Absalom (“City at the Center of the World”). His last letter was sent from Westcrown in the spring. He wrote of his effort to establish connections for the last leg to Absalom. There was a mention of unsavory merchants, and Rose fears that some ill befell him here.

Shadow was born north in Egorian and spent several years as a ward of the church after his parents were executed by the city. He did not take kindly to the teachings of Asmodeus and stowed away on a ship sailing down the river. Upon discovery, the crew tossed him overboard, but he managed to swim ashore and continued to Westcrown by foot. He was half-starved when caught stealing from a shipment of dried meats that Falcon was helping to guard. Shadow detests the church and diabolist government but has found a purpose in protecting and providing for other children on the streets.

Sparkle comes a family with a fairly prosperous business. She has never lacked for food or clothing or shelter and needs only pay lip service to Asmodeus. Yet she sees that many others are suffering, which is a disgrace when so much wealth passes through the ports. Also, good fortune comes with its own costs – keeping the dottari vigilant with gifts and favors as well as paying out of pocket to keep the streets lit near home and work – services that the mayor should direct the city to better fund.

Torch (Fiosa) has pledged herself to the group for rescuing her kin from illegal enslavement and hopes to see an end to all slavery, especially since it plagues her halfling people most often. Her work as a maid grants access to the estates of some wealthy merchants and lesser nobles.

Whisper venerates structure and order. Every cog has its place. Faulty parts must be repaired or replaced, but any punishment must be fitting. A stern fist needs be balanced by a benevolent hand.

Whittler spends most of his time outside the city but has seen that which festers within the walls seep into the wilds and waters as well. The fiendish taint plagues everything in reach and must be staunched at the roots.

Woodsman (Larko) has made a meager living on the docks while seeing traders and captains grow wealthy. He is attempting to organize workers in an effort to increase wages and implement better working conditions, such as healers on site.

[reefwood]

Toilday, Neth 30 - End Chapter 1 (part 3)

The group attempts to layout general aims. A number of ideas and themes are presented along with some more specific details:

The streets should be safe to walk.
--Urge dottari to protect all citizens equally.
--Increase the areas of the city lit at night.
--Provide escort to citizens who wish to travel at night.
--Investigate the shadow beast menace.

The truth should be free to speak.
--Collect an accurate history of the past century.
--Create pamphlets to anonymously share criticism and spread repressed information.

The laws should be just and apply to all.
--Praise judges with fair judgements.
--Create public pressure to reform extreme sentences and excessive punishments.
--Illegal slavery cannot be tolerated, and legal slavery should be abolished.

The lives of the poor should be decent.
--Gather food to feed the hungry.
--Repair disheveled buildings for the homeless.
--Remove trash from the slums.