Week One:
You find yourselves in an alleyway. You’ve been here before. Daily checks and sweeps are necessary in this neighbourhood to keep The Unwanted out. Oh, the unwanted, creatures that came just after the destruction of the city, maybe some sort of failsafe to make sure the job was done right.
It wasn’t, you’re still alive and fighting.
Anyways, the alley is only about 10 feet wide at best. At one time it could have been one of the central merchant locations, part of a network of streets winding its way around the cog that is the city center. You pause, as has become customary, and imagine what this place would have been like a few years ago. Bustling, difficult to move for the presence of people, smelly (only then would be sweat and fish and maybe many perfumes...who can remember now) Garbage and debris make walking difficult and running nearly impossible. Carts, booths and bins line the wall of the street. Taking time to wipe your brow is an exercise in futility, it’s hot back here, no breeze that you can tell. Ugh, smell. Just a week ago you uncovered some decaying bodies a couple of streets over, not half a mile away.
In the distance, the rubble begins to move in that all too familiar fashion. Up rises something and ambles along, making its way aimlessly in the opposite direction. The creature looks more or less intact, for a change.
Kendra takes the opportunity to see if she can tell what kind of creature it is. Skeleton. As soon as she informs the rest of you it, the skeleton takes off running. You know this to be peculiar behavior for a skeleton, they usually just charge into battle. Your confusion was explained to you as you chased the skeleton through the streets. Kendra ran ahead and saw which way it had gone, while Perin took the opportunity to catch up to the fleeing heap.
Battle ensued. Just as you were gaining the upper hand in the battle Perin found himself trapped between a previously non-existent creature and the skeleton he was battling. It raked claws across his back and as he turned to figure out what it was he was met with the face of horror. No, not aunt Loecile, it was a vampire. Perin, welling up with strength and courage made an attack and felled the vampire in a single swing...odd though because they are usually tougher. As it passed the Vampire said to Perin, "You may think you can protect it forever, but you can't, you can't even hope to survive." And disintegrated into nothingness.
After you defeat the Vampire and skeletons you make your way back to the center of the city. There you find, as usual, a reasonably large camp where the survivors have been residing ever since. These people are useful for many things. Each has used their trade to make life livable, and it appears that living is not profit enough. The small community works on a barter system, of which it appears you are members of a few people capable of bartering safety.
Key People:
Dyros: Young man about 25 – human – picked up his father’s merchant trade in the export of slaves. He has found new skills in leading the people in the camp by charismatic speeches filled with promises and hope. He acts as your liaison to the people, though he speaks openly, you have been getting the feeling he might not be telling everything he knows.
Selene: She looks smells and acts like a hag. Maybe that’s why creatures haven’t attacked the camp yet, maybe they figure something already has or is. Either way, she is nothing like she looks or smells. She is a sweet old lady, the kind that knits for her grandchildren. That’s right, a sweet evil old lady, and her grandchildren must have been of Abyssal descent. She’s nice, always nice as a matter of fact. But she looks like she could slap the smile off a hyena.
Na: Na is young, really young and Na isn’t even his real name. If you ask him a yes or no question you can guess what answer you’re going to get. You wonder sometimes how he is able to survive the harsh environment. At any rate the sneaky little bugger seems to know things, not everything, but if you want some useless information he’s your kid. “Hey, did you know ice archons don’t wear socks? Who knew?”
Korleck: You don’t know the gender of this loving the little ball of Dwarf. You’ve never thought to ask. He/She doesn’t talk much, but dang, it can smack metal with a hammer and seems to be good at sharpening your constantly dulling blades. Korleck has repaired your armour more times than you can count, though I don’t recall which school you graduated from, so it might not be that many. (Smooth move Arcie, calling out the only Dwarf in the camp. Fist fights between humans and dwarves don't usually go well, but hey, you might have had a chance...right....right? Anyways, it seems to have made the bond between Kasimir and Korleck stronger.)
Griff: This old man mispronounced his name the first time you met him. It’s supposed to be Gruff and he’s not happy about the unfortunate amendment to his name. He’s constantly irritated and mumbles to himself. Crazy may have hit him at a young enough age that in he times since he’s perfected his trade. He’s wise, you don’t know how. Ask him some questions; if you can sort out the syllables that follow he might have an answer for you. As an aside, he is also the group’s librarian; God knows why he went to the trouble to bring all the books here. (You try to talk to him but he rambles off some crazy syllables and when he thinks you get the point, or gets bored of you, walks off)
Jesse: This young lady would be what you call a seamstress. And when she’s not “seamstressing” she darning socks, shirts dresses and parts of your armour that Korleck can’t seem to smash with a hammer. As a result of her career she actually does know a few things; mostly just rumours and squabbles that happen among the small-ish group, but who knows she may come up with some useful information at some point. (You do talk to her and find out that the other adventuring party is frustrated that you guys get to fight all the real monsters and everyone pays attention to you instead of them.)
The Rest: The rest of the community consists of about five dozen or so. It’s manageable; there are people who can scour garbage bins for rotten food, or make a raid to a nearby supply locker and come back with some rations. Still the people are thin and under fed. There are people to perform everyday normal tasks, some who will volunteer to take watches at night, though it seems to make little difference as nothing ever happens in the central square. Among the represented you have a smattering of races, but mostly human.
Experience For the Evening:
Perin: 162
Kendra: 162
Kasimir: 162
Arcie: 162
*If you are or were absent you don't collect XP for adventures you weren't in. There may be opportunities to make up the difference - we'll see*
No comments:
Post a Comment