Author Topic: The Year That Was  (Read 19989 times)

Offline Asinjin

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Re: The Year That Was
« Reply #30 on: July 28, 2016, 03:19:01 PM »

:) awesome, i forgot.

The question I can't find anywhere is did any of the ten die in the battle?
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Offline Hero

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Re: The Year That Was
« Reply #31 on: July 28, 2016, 10:03:30 PM »
The question I can't find anywhere is did any of the ten die in the battle?
Not that I recall.

Offline Valdis

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Re: The Year That Was
« Reply #32 on: July 29, 2016, 08:06:41 AM »
The question I can't find anywhere is did any of the ten die in the battle?
None of the 10 died, but were beat up some and sent to the city to help bolster the defenses after the attack on the road. Vor'Ruk and Rompie went with us.

Offline Asinjin

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Re: The Year That Was
« Reply #33 on: July 29, 2016, 09:36:43 AM »
None of the 10 died, but were beat up some and sent to the city to help bolster the defenses after the attack on the road. Vor'Ruk and Rompie went with us.

10xp for the good memory.

They are now all with you as they traveled south with Ellic's forces.
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Offline Asinjin

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Re: The Year That Was
« Reply #34 on: July 31, 2016, 01:34:14 PM »
When the war pack arrives, there is a meeting between the leaders of Balinhost and the pack leaders.  Most of the PCs (both Haas and crew and gnolls) are in attendance but not leaders of either side and hence not introduced or asked to speak.

The meeting takes place just outside of Balinhost in a space that has been prepared.  The meeting is short.  The sides formally agree on what has been discussed in messages before the meeting.  The pack will be allowed to remain just outside Balinhost and be given cover in case of attack.  Balinhost will provide supplies while the pack remains.  Akrak, warlord of the gnolls, which come and discuss what comes next in the war.
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Offline Asinjin

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Re: The Year That Was
« Reply #35 on: August 02, 2016, 10:37:00 AM »
Martin and Ellic tell Haas and company the details of what was discussed.

"The gnoll warlord Akrar has agreed to ally with us to defeat the Fey and their allies." there is a sigh, "He is clearly more interested in a great war where the gnolls come out looking as the most powerful force and where he is lord of the forest.  We won't be able to convince him into a defensive or thoughtful strategy for long.  We have to hope that we are given the opportunity to work with his army to earn some victories before he is killed or they are defeated."

Martin says, "I have fought alongside and against the gnolls before.  This Akrak is more clever but less powerful than his predecessor.  His gnolls are better trained, which both gives me hope and pause."

Ellic says, "He claims to have 200,000 gnolls.  That means he has 100,000.  He wants to invade scalehome.  Our goal is to delay that impulse for as long as possible.  We need his army, but we are years away from such a mission."

Together they explain, "For now, he is going to go back to Garlakal and prepare.  A force of gnolls will remain here and a militia of Fironi will travel with him.  They are just token forces to keep each side honest.  For now, we need you," he looks at Ash and Grant, "to be liaisons.  One of you will travel with the Fironi to Garlakal and one will camp with the gnolls here.  Akrak trusts you two above any other here."
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Offline Asinjin

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Re: The Year That Was
« Reply #36 on: August 02, 2016, 10:44:14 AM »
On the other side, the gnolls hear the report from Akrak and Vatpik,.

"Balinhost has agreed to our terms!  They will help us defeat the fey and invade Scalehome when the time is right!  We go home now to rest and ready!"  Choruses of laughter and yells.

Specifically to the brothers, "You will stay here with the pack that had gone north.  Keep an eye on them and learn what you can."
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Offline Asinjin

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Re: The Year That Was
« Reply #37 on: August 02, 2016, 10:48:43 AM »
After the meeting, things settle in for a time.  For about two month, the fey make no obvious or overt moves.  The brothers rest and train.

They get to know Foost a bit better during this time.  One thing that sticks out, again if not mentioned before, is that he eats food that you have never seen a non-gnoll eat among humanoids.  When he finds it, he often chews on a dark root that turns his lips a dark color.  The gnolls often eat it, but the Fironi don't even want him to walk near them while he chews it.  He builds a fancy but small house for himself near the gnoll camp.  He disappears for a day or two at a time, but always returns.
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Offline Asinjin

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Re: The Year That Was
« Reply #38 on: August 03, 2016, 09:28:19 AM »
The rest of the forest, from reports you get, is falling under the sway of Scalehome.  Every week, a report comes in of another village that has agreed to the terms.  There are thousands of villages, so control is far from complete, but the constant news stream is disheartening to others in the forest.  The gnolls hear the same tales, but it only emboldens them.
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Offline Asinjin

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Re: The Year That Was
« Reply #39 on: August 03, 2016, 09:30:26 AM »
During the months after the battle, and then later up until the time we begin, reports of the cloud giants' activity also occasionally is heard.  Their cloud fortress patrols the skies above the forest.  It literally puts a shadow over the activities of the peoples of the forest.  It further convinces some villages to agree to terms and join Scalehome.
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Offline Asinjin

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Re: The Year That Was
« Reply #40 on: August 03, 2016, 09:35:10 AM »
All is not terrible in those months.  Once settled, Ellic and Martin begin a plan of their own.  Foremost on their agenda is to recruit more allies.  They consider rallying the Vass around Valizar as a new warlord.  They consider sending Vor'Ruk to the empire to make the case for aid, and hoping that the Wigs get involved to inspire the orcas help.  They consider sending Ajax to the new ogres of the forest to recruit them.  They consider sending Grant to the large communities of Owt, Nort, and Wes where he is known and hope that they will agree to help.
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Offline Asinjin

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Re: The Year That Was
« Reply #41 on: August 03, 2016, 09:38:46 AM »
It comes to everyone's attention after months of being in and near Balinhost, that their is a dragonslayer of renowned here.  Some have met him and even the gnolls have heard tales of him in passing.  His name is Juno and he is a halfling monk and dragonslayer.  He trained Claude for a time, and after Claude leaves (which is about four months after the battle), he becomes the primary source of dragon information.  Unfortunately, for reasons some know, he cannot directly fight the dragons of Scalehome.  He does offered to train anyone that wishes in the art of Dragonslaying.
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Offline Asinjin

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Re: The Year That Was
« Reply #42 on: August 03, 2016, 09:49:33 AM »
As time passes, Foost ingratiate himself more to the gnolls and to Balinhost.  Although he is not trying and still is low key whenever he visits Balinhost Proper (the main settlement of Balinhost), those in the know start to become aware of the dark skinned gnome staying with the gnolls.  He is the only dark skinned gnome that walks openly in Balinhost.

The story begins to float around that this gnome happened to notice some strange activity while shopping in the market street.  He reported two individuals to the constables and they turned out to be fey in disguise.  It happens at least twice more in the next two months to the point where Ellis and Martin make note to Haas and Ajax of the gnome.  "We think he means us no harm.  There is no indication the gnomes are involved in this, and why else would he point out fey spies.  Still, he stays with the knolls and he is strange."

Martin says, "Our basic investigation tell us nothing of where he comes from or his intentions.  I have even gone so far as to have the clerics divine his nature, and they have come back with nothing.  They say it could mean there is nothing nefarious or of note to report.  One even said, 'maybe he's just lucky'."

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Offline Asinjin

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Re: The Year That Was
« Reply #43 on: August 03, 2016, 09:53:01 AM »
Two of Ellic's assets which you do not often see are Tali the Sakor'akai spellcaster and the flying ship.

The gnolls don't notice or know, but the others do.  The ship at first after the battle was helping deliver supplies and move people around the forest.  While they are still doing that on occasion, constant threat from dragons and giants has made them shelter not in the forest.

Tali, in addition to spending time with that ship, has been made one of the prime diplomats in recruiting help.  He travels often and takes the Fironi diplomats with him as he teleports around.
« Last Edit: August 10, 2016, 11:01:35 PM by Asinjin »
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Offline Asinjin

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Re: The Year That Was
« Reply #44 on: September 01, 2016, 08:09:40 PM »
A reminder to make sure your characters are leveled and aged appropriately.

A month left before we begin.  I will pick up with the story shortly.
The hand that rolls the Dice rules the world.